In recent times, Karnataka has witnessed a series of incidents that have brought to light the troubling phenomenon of love jihad, sparking concerns about the safety and well-being of Hindu girls in the state. From Hubli to Mysore, reports of young Hindu girls entering into relationships and marriages with Muslim and Christian men have raised alarm bells among communities and ignited discussions about religious conversion and coercion of Hindu girls.

In Hubli, Sayed Sohail and Neha, along with Steevan Samuel and Shwetha Basawaraj, were involved in cases that have been identified as instances of love jihad. Similarly, in a recent incident, a young Hindu girl named Nandini from Kalenahalli, Hanagodu Hobli, Hunsur Taluk, Mysore District, applied for a registered marriage with a Muslim named Mujeeb Rahman in the office of the Mysore East Sub-Registrar, further underscoring the prevalence of this disturbing trend across different regions of Karnataka.

The utilization of the Special Marriage Act as a legal framework for interfaith marriages has come under scrutiny, with Hindu activists arguing that it facilitates religious conversion and undermines the preservation of Hindu culture and traditions. Reports indicate a rising number of cases across Karnataka, with incidents documented in various sub-registrar offices, including three cases reported in the Hubli sub-register office during the first week of March alone.

In response to these developments, voices advocating for the preservation of Hindu values and cultural identity have grown louder. Hindu organizations and social media activists alarmed Hindu girls, and “Jago Hindu” slogans have emerged, calling for greater emphasis on Hindu education and cultural upbringing from childhood as a means of safeguarding Hindu girls from alleged instances of “Love Jihad” and religious conversion to Islamism and Christianity.

Love Jihad cases in the northern part of Bharat are becoming increasingly frequent, with reports of forced conversion and coercion on the rise. In some instances, girls are even subjected to torture and violence by Islamist extremists. These alarming cases of Love Jihad should serve as a wake-up call, and raise awareness among Hindu girls to prevent such instances in the future.