Lucknow, May 12: Eight Muslim families have fled their western Uttar Pradesh village following three consecutive nights of attacks by armed mobs, despite police security, after a young Muslim man was accused of eloping with a married Hindu neighbour.
The development fits neatly into the "love jihad" narrative, whose promoters include current chief minister Yogi Adityanath and which entails an alleged plot by young Muslim men to seduce and convert Hindu women.
The families left Nandrauli village of Sambhal district, 420km northwest of Lucknow, last night after the third attack, which happened hours after a deputy inspector-general of police had visited the village to reassure the Muslims.
Each of the attacks took place amid the presence of 20 personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary - a state paramilitary force - and 10 police constables who had been stationed before the Muslim homes to protect them. Read Full
