BHOPAL MAN HELD UNDER MP’S NEW ‘LOVE JIHAD’ LAW

Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh police has arrested a 25year-old mechanic in Bhopal under a new law in the state that penalises religious conversions through fraudulent means, after a woman lodged a complaint against him, officials said on Thursday. In her complaint, the victim, a 23-year-old engineering student, accused the man of repeatedly raping her and bullying her besides threatening her to change her faith to marry him, they said. This is the second case registered in the state under the new law. Earlier this month, the state government promulgated the Freedom of Religion2020 ordinance, which provides for 10 years in jail in some cases. “Accused Asad Khan was on Wednesday arrested and charged under seven IPC Sections, including 376 (2) (n) (repeated rape), 354 (stalking), 294 (obscene act) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and attempts to change religion by allurement and threat under the MP Religious Freedom Ordinance 2020,” Ashoka Garden police station inspector Alok Shrivastava said. The woman hailed from MP’s Balaghat district and befriended the accused in 2019 while using a public transport system. He told her that he was a mechanical engineer. The accused told the woman that his name was Ashu and he was a Hindu, Mr Shrivastava said.