Tension erupted at a marriage hall in Shahjahanpur on Sunday when members of Hindu organisations, along with the police, stopped the wedding of a Hindu girl who is reportedly a minor. The organisations have alleged that the girl was being forced to convert to another religion before the marriage ceremony. Police have detained the bride, groom, and family members from both sides for questioning.
Chaos During the Ceremony
The incident took place at Janata Marriage Hall. Hindu organisation leader Rajesh Awasthi reached the venue with the police after receiving information about an alleged underage marriage involving a Hindu girl and a boy from another community.
The sudden arrival of the police caused panic among the wedding attendees, and several guests were seen leaving the hall hurriedly.
Organisations claim the girl is 16 years old, though she has stated her age as 17.
Allegations of Religious Conversion
Hindu groups alleged that the girl’s religion was changed before conducting the nikah. They accused the families of violating the law and demanded that strict charges related to “forced conversion” and “love jihad” be filed.
The allegations triggered a heated exchange inside the marriage hall, leading to the wedding being halted midway.
Police Begin Inquiry; No Written Complaint Yet
Following the disruption, police detained the couple and members of both families and began questioning them at the police station. Officials confirmed that no formal complaint has been filed by either party so far.
Authorities said that further legal action will be taken only after the investigation establishes the facts regarding the girl’s age, consent, and the claims of religious conversion.