Purnia, September 22, 2024: In a shocking case of alleged ‘love jihad’ in Purnia, Bihar, a Muslim man named Mohammad Jiyarul (32) was arrested for deceiving a Hindu woman into marriage under a false identity. The man, originally from Barsauni under the Dagurua police station, posed as a Hindu named Shankar Yadav to win the trust of the woman. This was reportedly Jiyarul’s seventh marriage, with the previous six having ended in separation or divorce.
The victim, who met Jiyarul in December 2023 when he was working as a laborer near her home in the Gulab Bagh area, fell in love and married him on February 7, 2024, unaware of his real identity. The man had changed his name to Shankar Yadav on official documents, including his Aadhaar card, to solidify his deception.
Initially, the woman noticed nothing amiss. However, as months passed, she grew suspicious when her husband’s behavior began to change. He started incorporating Urdu phrases into his speech, raised his hands in prayer during the Muslim call to prayer (Azan), and increasingly pressured her to conform to Islamic practices. Upon visiting his family, she discovered that they were Bengali Muslims, contrary to what she had been led to believe.
By August, the woman confronted Jiyarul, who allegedly began pressuring her to convert to Islam. She was forced to wear a burqa, read the Quran, and threatened with death threats if she refused to change her religion. The victim, feeling trapped, informed her family, who secretly investigated Jiyarul’s background. It was then revealed that Jiyarul had previously been married six times and had divorced two of his former wives.
When the victim confronted Jiyarul with the truth, he reportedly began threatening her further, insisting that she must convert to Islam or face dire consequences. The situation escalated until the woman filed a formal complaint with the local Sadar police station on September 18, 2024. Authorities responded swiftly, arresting Mohammad Jiyarul on September 19.
According to Purnima Kumari, the SHO in charge of the Sadar police station, the accused has been booked under various charges related to fraud and coercion. The case was brought to wider attention by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing organization, which has been vocal about the incident.
Currently, Jiyarul is being held in custody while further investigations are underway. The case has sparked tensions in the area, and the authorities are urging restraint as the legal process unfolds.
This incident has once again raised concerns about ‘love jihad’—a term used to describe cases where Muslim men allegedly pose as Hindus to marry and convert Hindu women. However, the term remains controversial, with critics questioning its legitimacy as a widespread issue.
