The much publicised “love Jihad” campaign following a report filed by the 22-year-old girl in Meerut, finally falls flat after the victim herself denied of her earlier statement and even went on to apprehend threat to her life from her parents.
The local police during investigation already denied the charges made by the girl but after some political parties raised the issue in the name of `love jehad’, heads of some local officials were rolled and they were suspended by the government under pressure. Not only this, local police also filed a charge-sheet in the case. However, while father still maintained the charges and claimed that his daughter was forced to change her statement, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), demanded a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), alleging that the Government is trying to shield the criminals.
Senior superintendent of police in Meerut, Onkar Singh, claimed that the investigation made by them which revealed that forcible conversion to Islam or rape as alleged by the 22-year-old girl in Meerut (The victim also maintained her allegations during her statement recorded before the magistrate under Section 164 of Cr PC), was not true and that the girl went on her consent has been now buttress with the fact that the same `Victim’ turned up before the cops at the Mahila Police station and denying her earlier allegations, she claimed to have gone on her own free will.
The girl has now told the police that she had run away from her house as there was “threat to her life” and alleged that she was also “beaten up”.
``She arrived to the mahila police station at 8 on Sunday morning and told that she has gone on her own free will with a boy. But the case has already been charge sheeted and pending before the court. “She told the woman police officer that she has life threat from her own parents as well as also from relatives. On this ground, we have brought the woman to the executive magistrate and he has recorded the statement of the woman. She has been sent to the Nari Niketan for the safety and protection,” said Onkar Singh. He said that out of the half a dozen persons accused in the case lodged by the father of the above girl on August 3 last, they arrested five of them and a charge-sheet was also submitted in the court on September 26 last. Now they would appraise the Court of the development so necessary proceedings could be made.
However, the father of the girl has disputed his daughter’s claim and said she has been threatened to give a retraction statement. The BJP also accused the Samajwadi Party government
in the state of “directing” the police to protect the criminals and demanded a CBI probe in the matter. “It is now exposed that Meerut police on the directions of the State government has come out in protecting criminals,” laxmikant Bajpaye, state BJP president said. “BJP has not made any textbook case. It is now exposed that Meerut police under the direction of UP government has come out in protecting criminals,” He said that the lady has given a statement of section 164 in which she has said that she is giving the statement without being under any pressure. “And retracting from the statement given before the magistrate, for that whatever crime or offence it comes under, action should be taken according to that. This case has been spoiled by the police on the orders of state government. The case should be investigated by CBI or some outside agency,” he said.
The matter of alleged gangrape and conversion in August was latched up by the BJP whose leaders including Yogi Adityanath, state in charge of bye elections, exploiting the issue, especially in western parts of the state. The alleged perpetrator Kaleem and others were arrested after the girl had alleged on August 3 that she had been abducted, gang-raped and forcibly converted to Islam.