UP houses burnt over inter-faith elopement | India News

AGRA: Members of a right-wing group, Dharam Jagran Samanvay Sangh, allegedly set fire to houses of a man identified as Sajid (who goes by his first name) and his relatives in Agra’s Sikandra area on Friday after a woman belonging to another community eloped with him four days ago.
Some locals held a “panchayat” on Friday and soon after, three houses — Sajid’s, his brother Mujahid’s and uncle Raees’s — were set on fire by a mob. The outfit members were demanding the arrest of Sajid (26), a gym owner, who was accused of “kidnapping” the 22-year-old woman, a post-graduate science student. Shops in the local Runakta market downed shutters in protest after the incident.
The woman had reportedly tied the knot with Sajid in an Arya Samaj temple in Delhi on April 12. She also recorded four videos soon thereafter that went viral. In one such video, she is purportedly heard saying, “We are adults. We came together on our own will and got married. Please don’t trouble our family members because of us. I will come and record my statement before court.” In another clip, she said “her parents want her to make false accusations against Sajid”.

Before tying the knot, Sajid had converted to Hinduism. As per an affidavit filed by him, he said he had “converted on his free will, without any force or undue influence from any corner”. “From April 12, I’ll be known by my new name Sahil,” the affidavit said. He had also performed “shudhikaran” (purification) rituals in Arya Samaj, as per the certificate.
SSP Sudhir Kumar Singh said, “Members of Dharam Jagran Samanvay Sangh set fire to Sajid’s and his relatives’ houses and fled. The situation is under control and police force has been deployed in the area.” He added that “both individuals are adults” and the woman who eloped was “rescued by us”.
“She has been sent to nari niketan following a medical checkup,” he said, adding the chowki in charge of the area has been suspended while an inquiry has been set up against Sikandra SHO.
An FIR has been registered against 21 identified people, including Runakta village pradhan and a zila panchayat member, and over 100 unidentified persons under IPC. Nine people have been arrested and remanded in judicial custody