Interfaith marriage sparks tensions in Karnataka, couple seeks police protection

Tensions prevailed in Bagalkot city of Karnataka after a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl got married in a temple and sought police protection.The couple belonging to different faiths reportedly got married against the wishes of their parents on April 28. Following their marriage, the couple approached the Superintendent of Police (SP) office on May 8 seeking help for security reasons. Soon after their



request, Hindutva outfits rushed to the police station and staged a protest on the night of Wednesday, May 9.

The agitated Hindutva protesters, claiming to represent the Hindu boy’s family, claimed that “police supported the Muslim girl’s family and demanded that the newly-married couple be handed over to them, stating that they wanted to ‘protect’ the Hindu boy.