Rehan Khan
A court in Uttarkashi, Uttarakhand, has acquitted two men accused of ‘love jihad’ involving allegations of inducing and kidnapping a 14-year-old Hindu girl under the pretext of marriage.
Special Judge Gurbaksh Singh observed that the victim had not identified the accused in any of her statements or mentioned the incident in question.
Judge Singh further emphasized that, according to the victim’s testimony, none of the accused had attempted to kidnap her; rather, the police had coached her to provide statements against the accused.
Uvaid Khan and his friend Jitendra Saini, both residents of Bijnor district in Uttar Pradesh, were accused of abducting a 13-year-old girl on May 26, 2023. The girl, an orphan living with her uncle and aunt, had only asked the men for directions to a tailor’s shop when the incident occurred.
The girl’s uncle lodged a police complaint in which he mentioned that his acquaintance, Ashish Chunar, who owns a computer shop in Purola market, had informed him that Khan and Saini were “transporting” the girl to Naugaon, about 18 kilometers from Purola, in a tempo.
The two accused were charged under Sections 363 (kidnapping) and 366A (procuration of a minor girl) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO) Act.
In the months following the incident, the girl testified in court that she had visited Purola market to get her clothes stitched and had merely asked the accused men for directions.
During the court proceedings, Ashish Chunar recanted his earlier statement and failed to identify the accused, which added a new twist to the case.
The allegations led to a boycott and closure of businesses owned by Muslims, causing many families to face financial hardships and accumulate debts.
After thoroughly reviewing the evidence and testimonies, the court concluded that the prosecution had failed to substantiate its case. Regarding the charges under the POCSO Act, the court noted that the prosecution failed to prove that the accused had engaged in any actions or physical contact with the victim girl with sexual intent. The court emphasized that the absence of evidence indicating any sexual intent or actions significantly weakened the prosecution’s case. This lack of substantiation led to the acquittal of the accused on these charges.
“We have always maintained our innocence. This decision brings us peace after a year of turmoil,” Khan stated. Saini added, “Justice has finally been served. We hope to rebuild our lives and businesses without fear.“