Cases of interfaith marriages emerging from three Indian states have once again intensified social and legal debates across the country. Incidents reported from Moradabad (Uttar Pradesh), Ajmer (Rajasthan), and Muzaffarpur (Bihar) have led to familial opposition and local tensions after Muslim women chose to marry or live with Hindu men.
In Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad district, a 23-year-old Muslim woman from a village in the Bilari area left her home during Ramadan and went with her 25-year-old Hindu partner. The couple solemnized their marriage at a temple in accordance with Hindu rituals. Following the ceremony, they appeared before the district’s senior police authorities, expressing apprehension of threats from family members and seeking protection.
Police officials have directed the concerned station house officer to conduct an inquiry. The woman stated that the two had known each other for several years and decided to marry despite their families’ disapproval. Authorities confirmed that an investigation is underway and that necessary security measures will be ensured.
In Rajasthan’s Ajmer, a dispute erupted over a Hindu woman’s relationship with a Muslim man. The woman, a resident of the Babugarh locality, had left her home and was later found at the man’s residence. In her statement to the police, she asserted that she is an adult and had acted of her own free will.
News of the incident drew large crowds, creating a tense atmosphere in the area. During the commotion, the woman’s father allegedly attempted self-immolation by pouring kerosene over himself, but police personnel and local residents intervened in time. Instances of vandalism were also reported from certain spots.
Police officials stated that the woman’s testimony would carry legal weight and that relevant documents and allegations are being examined. The administration has appealed to the public to maintain peace and order.
Meanwhile, in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, a case has surfaced in Aurai block involving a Muslim schoolteacher who claims to have married a Hindu colleague already reported to be married. The woman released a video stating that the marriage had taken place earlier and that she is safe.
There is discussion that the male teacher was previously married. If his earlier marriage remains legally valid, entering into a second marriage without obtaining a lawful divorce could attract penal consequences under the provisions of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. However, the police have yet to issue an official statement, even as varied reactions continue to emerge at the local level.
