A missing persons case involving a woman and her nine-year-old son from Karnataka’s Kodagu district has triggered a major controversy after the duo were traced to a madrasa in Kerala’s Malappuram district, leading to the arrest of two persons and allegations of a wider religious conversion and love jihad network operating across the region, as reported in Ten News.
The woman, identified as Sanchita, had been missing along with her son for nearly one-and-a-half months after leaving Kushalnagar in Kodagu district. The case came to light after her husband lodged a complaint with the Kushalnagar police, alleging the involvement of the owner of the textile shop where she worked.
According to local sources, Sanchita had been employed at a shop in the NTC Complex near Kushalnagar. Hindu organisations allege that after coming into contact with the shop owner, identified as Saleem, she left her husband and travelled with her son to Kerala.
Following the disappearance, Sanchita’s husband reportedly conducted extensive searches for his wife and child. Suspecting the involvement of the textile shop where she worked, he approached the Kushalnagar police and filed a formal complaint. Hindu organisations also joined the search efforts and extended support to the family.
During the investigation, police traced the woman and her son to a madrasa in Kerala’s Malappuram district. According to information that emerged during the probe, Sanchita had allegedly converted to Islam after reaching Kerala. It has further been alleged that her nine-year-old son underwent circumcision and was also converted.
The development has intensified allegations by Hindu organisations, which claim that the case is part of a larger religious conversion and love jihad network allegedly operating in parts of Malappuram district, particularly in the Ponnani and Manjeri regions.
Investigators suspect that Saleem may have influenced Sanchita and facilitated her relocation to Kerala along with her son. Police sources indicate that Saleem had been running a shop at the Nisargadhama Tourist Centre near Kushalnagar for nearly ten years and that Sanchita had worked there for approximately three years.
Apart from Saleem, another individual identified as Jaleel has also been accused of assisting in the alleged conversion operation. Based on the investigation so far, Karnataka police have arrested both Saleem and Jaleel. Further inquiries are underway to establish the circumstances under which the woman and her son travelled to Kerala, the nature of the alleged conversion, and whether coercion, inducement or organised facilitation was involved.
According to reports, shortly after news of the case surfaced, the shop operated by Saleem at the tourist centre was reportedly shut down by its owners.
Meanwhile, Hindu organisations have alleged that Hindu women employed in various establishments within the NTC Complex are being specifically targeted. They further claimed that love jihad and religious conversion activities are being carried out in the area and urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged network.
The organisations have demanded a detailed probe into all aspects of the case and called for strict action against those found responsible. They have also urged police to investigate the alleged links between the Kodagu case and what they describe as organised conversion operations functioning in parts of Kerala.
Police officials have stated that the investigation remains ongoing and that further action will be taken based on the findings of the inquiry. Authorities are currently examining all angles of the case, including the allegations of conversion, the role of the arrested individuals, and the circumstances that led to the woman and her son being traced to the madrasa in Malappuram.
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