Police, Bajrang Dal and the Making of Anti-‘Love Jihad' Squad in Madhya Pradesh

The Wire

2 days ago

Bhopal: After a series of videos emerged showing Madhya Pradesh police publicly parading crime accused forcing them to chant slogans like ' Police hamari baap hai (police is our father)' and ' Gaai hamari mata hai (cow is our mother)', now, a new video from Bhopal shows a police officer – on camera, in uniform – warning Muslims to stay out of a gym, raising fresh concerns over the police's involvement in promoting communal narratives.
The controversy, this time, centres on sub-inspector Dinesh Shukla, who is seen sitting with Bajrang Dal members in a purported video addressing people inside a gym, stating, 'Yahan koi bhi Mohammadan na ayega, na training lene ayega, na training dene ayega. Meine keh diya (No Mohammedan will come here, neither to take training nor to give it. I have said it).'
SI Shukla, in a widely circulated video, appears to enforce an informal ban on the presence of Muslim men in public spaces like the gym, reflecting the language used by right-wing groups who push the 'love jihad' conspiracy theory. While the sub-inspector has been line attached, his presence, alongside self-declared vigilantes, has raised serious questions about the narrowing gap between law enforcement and ideological policing in Madhya Pradesh. Slogans, raids and threats in the name of honour
Hindutva vigilantes have been increasingly targeting Muslim individuals in the state under the pretext of 'love jihad '. The term lacks any legal basis but is still used to allege that Muslim men lure Hindu women into romantic relationships to convert them to Islam.
The Madhya Pradesh Police recently also formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations of forced religious conversions linked to a rape case .
Ayodhya Nagar police station station house officer (SHO) Mahesh Lilhare confirmed to The Wire that the incident took place on May 28 following a visit by members of Hindutva organisations to the gym. He said that the matter is under investigation, but the video that is circulating seems to be edited.
However, in another video from a gym in Bhopal, men associated with Hindutva organisations can be seen barging into the gym while shouting slogans like ' Jai Shri Ram ' and 'Love jihad karne walon ko, joote maaro saalon ko (Beat up those who do love jihad ).'
One of the men, who is also seen in the other video with SI Dinesh Shukla, is seen advising the gym management, asking, 'Ladkiyon ko training kaun deta hai (Who trains the girls)?'
He continues, ' Aap ek cheez dhyan rakho, agar love jihad ka case aapke gym mein ek bhi aata hai to uske zimmedar aap rahoge (Keep one thing in mind, if even one love jihad case comes up from your gym, you will be held responsible).'
The Wire cannot confirm the authenticity of video.
The man adds, ' Hamara ek nivedan hai aapse, Hindu ladkiyon ke liye Hindu trainer hi rakhoge (We request you to appoint only Hindu trainers for Hindu girls).'
He is further heard saying, ' Hamara main maqsad hai apni behen-betiyon ko love jihad se bachana (Our main aim is to protect our sisters and daughters from love jihad ).'
Referring to past incidents, he adds, ' Jis prakar ka kratya Indore mein hua, TIT College mein hua – love jihad nahi chalega (What happened in Indore, at TIT College – love jihad won't be tolerated),' ending it with the slogan, ' Love jihad murdabad (Down with love jihad )'. A shared vocabulary of hate
According to the 2024 India Hate Lab report , nearly half of all recorded hate speeches, around 581 incidents, referred to conspiracy theories. Among the most common were terms like 'love jihad ,' 'land jihad ,' 'population jihad ,' ' thook (spit) jihad ,' and 'vote jihad .'
SHO Mahesh Lilhare said, 'There was a complaint from Hindutva organisations alleging that non-Hindu gym trainers were using Hindu names with the intent of carrying out love jihad or religious conversion. Several organisation members gathered, and our staff accompanied them to the gym. The name of the gym is still unknown, but we are contacting the girls to verify the details. We spoke to the sub-inspector in question, who denied making such a statement, saying the video was clipped. We have taken cognisance of the video and are investigating whether it is authentic or edited.'
He further stated that the police have no intention of acting against any caste or community. 'Any action will be taken strictly according to rules and regulations, based on the outcome of the investigation. The police do not represent any religion or group. We are doing our job, as mandated under the IPC, CrPC, BNS and BNSS. Any language or terminology we use is strictly in line with legal provisions.'
While the police stress neutrality and adherence to legal procedures, the term 'love jihad ' has steadily seeped into public discourse, used freely by both political leaders and sections of the media.
Bhopal MP Alok Sharma was quoted as saying , 'We are making a list and will be submitting it to the police. The police will do their work, the law will do its job, and in Madhya Pradesh, under Dr Mohan Yadav's government, no one has permission to indulge in love jihad or land jihad. The law will take strict action against such people.'
This is not the first time Sharma has made such remarks . Recently, he publicly demanded sterilisation as a punishment for those allegedly involved in love jihad . In a similar aggressive rhetoric, Madhya Pradesh minister Vishwas Sarang had earlier said that such individuals should be shot in the chest.
Last month, a resident of Bhopal filed a petition in the Madhya Pradesh high court against the use of the term 'love jihad ' by major Hindi dailies accusing them of giving a communal angle to a rape case, and in doing so, linking the crime to entire Muslim community.
Advocate Deepak Bundele told The Wire that the matter will be heard on June 19.
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