Several days after a list of over a 100 inter-faith couples was reportedly posted on Facebook by the page ‘Hindutva Varta’ as examples of ‘love-jihad’ in January, a couple from the list has reportedly lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police after allegedly receiving death-threats.
According to Indian Express, the couple alleged that they were being harassed on social media and receiving threats, after the post containing their names had gone viral on social media.
The post was accompanied with the message that Hindu women were being made the “victims of love-jihad” and that the “Hindu tigers” should hunt down the Muslim men whose names are enlisted alongside, the report adds.
The Kolkata Police, in turn, told News18 that they had received such complaints from several of those whose names were on the list and that it was investigating the matter.
Yes, we have received a complaint and are investigating the matter. We are verifying the Facebook accounts from which these objectionable posts were put up. We promise to take adequate action based on the authenticity of such posts.Praveen Kumar Tripathi, Joint Commissioner of Police to News18
It was on 4 January that my girlfriend was shocked to find such a list being highlighted by individuals and various groups through social media. She was scared and informed me. Some of the groups called for saving the women, some individuals highlighted couples like us as love jihad in social media.The man, whose name has not been disclosed, to The Indian Express
He added that after receiving these threats on social media, some of which ordered her to not meet him, she blocked as many of the senders as she could, but there were too many. As a result, she went off social media, the report adds.
Another woman, working as a marketing executive in a private company in Kolkata told News18 that she was surprised to see her name on the list and be the recipient of such prejudiced comments, even though her boyfriend and her had broken up over a year ago.
I was shocked to see my name being associated with my former boyfriend. We were in a relationship but it’s over now. We are not in touch for over a year. Such social media posts really hurt and I am scared and traumatised.The woman to News18
Another man from Burdwan told The Indian Express that he had seen his name in the list although the girl whose name accompanied his is just a friend.
“Can’t a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl be friends? No one has the right to write about me and my friend like this. This country has so many religions and cultures. We may approach the police. We trust the law of the land.” he told The Indian Express.
A similar post was uploaded by Biplab Chattopadhyay, who later claimed to be a member of VHP, on a group called ‘Milan Mela’ where he said: “Hindu girls are converting to Islam by Love Jihad…Wake up HINDUS otherwise you will lose your homeland INDIA,” the report adds.
(With inputs from Indian Express and News18)
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