In Indore, ‘love jihad’ vigilantes from Bajrang Dal have a free run https://scroll.in/article/1043195/in-indore-love-jihad-vigilantes-from-bajrang-dal-have-a-free-run In the last two months, they have accosted and shamed several inter-faith couples. The police have responded by taking Muslim men into preventive custody.
“The apprehension of disturbance in law and order should be real and reasonable. The way police detain these boys even after they are beaten is abuse of power,” said Rohit Sharma, advocate at Indore High Court. Since in several cases, the young women refused to file a complaint against the Muslim men, preventive custody was used to placate the mob, said the lawyers. “The police should take action against the Bajrang Dal instead of filing cases against the victims,” said Ehtisham Hashmi, a lawyer in Indore.
Indore police commissioner Hari Narayan Chari Mishra denied accusations of bias, saying they take action whenever they get a complaint. “If there is no complaint, what can the police do?”
On being asked about Bajrang Dal men beating up Muslim men in public spaces or at people’s homes, he said, “It is wrong but police will act when there is a complaint.”