In this century, inter-faith relationships are more or less not seen as a taboo in our society, if the foundation of the relationship is that of love and affection for each other. However, there have been numerous instances where this relationship turns into barbarism. The media’s bias to report only on crimes committed by Hindus is well known. There have been instances as well where such crimes have been used by political outfits and media organizations to galvanize public opinion for spewing venom against the Hindu society. However, crimes committed by other communities, particularly the so-called ‘minority community’, go largely unnoticed, or appear as mere tickers. However, the recent murder case of Khushi Parihar who called herself Zara Shaikh after she started a live-in relationship with one Ashraf Shaikh, has pointed towards the dark side of such inter-faith marriages and relationships. The case of Khushi Parihar aka Zara Shaikh is not alone in terms of inter-faith relationships. There are multiple instances of such relationships meeting horrible ends.
In 2017, a Hindu girl, Kiran, was murdered by one Adil Ansari over an argument. The two started their conversations on phone and then decided to meet. The two met at Ramgadh, Jharkhand, from where Adil took the girl to a relative’s place. The two spent a night together. After an argument, Kiran threatened to inform the police about all the happenings. This enraged Adil, who after getting her dinner from a Hotel, tied her and slit her throat. He then dumped her body in a river which was later recovered. However, the arrest of Adil opened an entire set of pandora boxes. The families of the two were against the relationship. Adil’s father and uncle gave an ultimatum to Kiran to convert to Islam if she wanted the relationship to be recognized by the family. The girl refused to comply. The father-uncle duo then deceived the couple and took them through a jungle root where the two took turns to rape the girl. Adil alleged that he was tied so he could do nothing to save her. All this brutality was inflicted on the girl simply because she refused to convert to Islam. This incident
In 2018, one Asif Mohd Pathan stabbed his wife Mahima Vitole, aged 20 in public view over suspicion on her character. Ever since their marriage, Asif indulged in regular arguments with his wife. The wife, tired with the regular fights, decided to move back to her parents. This infuriated Asif employed all pressure tactics to convince her to return, however, the woman did not budge. Asif then one day called Mahima to a Kirana shop on some pretext. He then picked up a fight with her and stabbed her in public view.
Also in 2018, a couple in Bijnor split over the wife’s illicit relationship with their driver, Shahnawaaz. Having come to know about their relationship, the husband and Rashmi (the victim) split. Rashmi shifted to Delhi in 2016 to be later joined by Shahnawaaz who married after Rashmi converted to Islam. However, a financial crisis made Shahnawaaz sell Rashmi’s ornaments. When the wife demanded her ornaments back, Shahnawaaz grew inpatient of her. He and his father then hatched a plan to get rid of Rashmi. They murdered her by hitting her on the head with a stone.
In 2018, a woman’s dismembered body was found near the Okhla tank. The victim, Juhi, aged 26, a native of Bihar was brutally murdered by her husband Sajid Ali Ansari. The two had fallen for each other while studying in Kurukshetra. They then married against the wishes of Juhi’s family and settled in Delhi. Sajid admitted that he was looking for an excuse to murder his wife. He made a plan to do so the next time she got into a fight with him. One day, Sajid deliberately picked up a fight with Juhi, which ended with him mercilessly murdering her while their children were sleeping. Sajid then called up his brother Ishteyaque to help him dispose of her body. The duo cut up Juhi’s body in the bathroom into seven pieces. Sajid then called his elder brother Hasmat, who stayed nearby and asked him to help in getting rid of the dismembered body. A case of murder has been registered against Sajid, while Hasmat and Ishteyaque were charged with an attempt to destroy evidence.
In another shocking incident, Mansi Dixit, an aspiring and enthusiastic model, was murdered in cold blood in Mumbai. As per the police report, Muzammil Sayyed, who lived in Oshiwara was known to Mansi Dixit. He invited Dixit at his place, following which they got into an argument. Sayyed in a fit of fury cracked Dixit’s head open with a hammer, killing her instantly and then went on to choke her. He then stuffed her body into a suitcase and booked a cab online for Mumbai international airport. However, Sayyed never reached the airport. He simply dumped the body in an isolated location and took a rickshaw back home. Sensing something wrong, the cabbie notified the Bangur Nagar police and shared Sayyed’s details from the online booking records. Mumbai Police took no time in nabbing Sayyed, after which he confessed to his crime.
The latest case in this list is that of aspiring model Khushi Parihar. Khushi was in a live-in relationship with one Ashraf Shaikh. Khushi Parihar had even started referring to herself as Zara Shaikh. Recently, Ashraf Shaikh murdered her on suspicion of her having other male friends. This case, in particular, sparked a debate about such inter-faith relationships.
There are numerous instances where such barbarism has been exhibited in inter-faith relationships. It is the duty of each of us to be alert and not let such instances of an inter-faith relationship slip from under our noses, because if we don’t spread awareness in preventing such brutalities, what more are we than mere accomplices in the crime.
