JABALPUR: An inter-faith marriage application, filed at the office of the Jabalpur additional collector, has sparked protests from religious groups and a call from Hyderabad BJP MLA T Raja to Hindu outfits to stop it.
The lovers — Ankita Thakur of Indore and Hasnain Ansari of Sihora (Jabalpur) — have been missing since Oct 5, soon after filing the marriage application. Ankita's family has filed a missing person's report at Rau police station in Indore.
According to Jabalpur ASP (rural) Suryakant Sharma, Indore police came to Jabalpur in search of the woman. They went to Ansari's house on Monday but did not find any clues to their whereabouts. Police have recorded statements from several individuals and are taking technical and intelligence help in the search.
It took a political turn when BJP MLA from Hyderabad, T Raja, called on right-wing organisations to prevent the marriage. He warned that if the marriage was not stopped, it could lead to dire consequences and urged Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav to intervene. If Ankita received protection, it might encourage other girls to seek freedom, he suggested.
Right-wing organisations have filed objections to the marriage. Hindu Seva Parishad submitted an application at the collector's office, labelling the case as ‘love jihad'. Its president, Atul Jaswani, said that the marriage is scheduled for Nov 12 and warned of aggressive protests if it wasn't cancelled.
Ankita and Ansari were working with a telecom company in Bhopal when they developed a romantic relationship.
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