Muslim homes torched in northern India over ‘love jihad’ conspiracy

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — In yet another alarming instance of anti-Muslim vigilantism, two houses belonging to a Muslim family were set on fire in state of Haryana’s Bhiwani district, after a young Muslim man allegedly eloped with a Hindu woman. 

The arson attack—captured in disturbing videos circulated online—reflects the dangerous normalization of the Hindutva-backed conspiracy theory known as “love jihad.”

While the incident occurred in Dhani Mahu village, the consequences have continued to ripple through the region days later, as police deploy additional personnel and investigators work to identify masked attackers seen in the videos. 

The couple reportedly fled their respective homes over the weekend, prompting a village council to be convened shortly before the violence broke out.

The attack took place earlier this week, when masked men armed with hammers stormed the homes, dragged out appliances and vehicles—including a motorcycle, washing machine, and TV—and set them on fire. The victims were not present at the time, likely preventing casualties. The incident was captured in widely shared videos that also show flames engulfing the property.

Though senior officials, including the sub-divisional police officer, visited the scene, authorities have yet to confirm whether a formal complaint was filed by the victims. No arrests have been made as of Wednesday, and the government has not issued any official statement.

Analysts warn that this attack is emblematic of a broader pattern of hate crimes under India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Since coming to power, the BJP and affiliated Hindu nationalist groups have propagated the idea of “love jihad”—a baseless conspiracy claiming Muslim men seduce Hindu women to convert them to Islam. 

This theory has not only incited mob violence but has also shaped state policy, with several BJP-ruled states enacting laws restricting interfaith relationships.

Civil rights advocates say such incidents are not isolated but part of a growing climate of impunity, where anti-Muslim violence is increasingly justified under cultural and religious pretexts. They argue that instead of protecting minorities, authorities often remain complicit—by omission or silence.