Author: Amit Anand Choudhary, TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: November 30, 2017
URL:   https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kerala-government-backs-nia-probe-into-love-jihad/articleshow/61857043.cms

The CPM-led government in Kerala has backed NIA probe into instances of 'love jihad' and has told the Supreme Court that it was "grappling with the problem".

While the Marxist-led government had earlier opposed the probe by National Investigation Agency, it asked the Supreme Court on Monday to take into account the report prepared by the central agency before taking a view on the allegation Hindu women were being lured into marriages with Muslims as part of a larger plot to organise religious conversions.

"Court should first look into the document. We have to first look at the broader picture. The state grapples with this problem," Kerala government's counsel, senior advocate V Giri told the apex court during the hearing in the case about the conversion of Akhila to Islam.

NIA has in its report spoken about a "well-oiled" machinery active in Kerala to indoctrinate people to embrace Islam. The state government had earlier opposed NIA probe into the marriage of Shafin Jahan and Akhila Asokan to examine alleged indoctrination and conversion to Islam of the girl and had told the Supreme Court that state police had thoroughly probed the case and there was no need to hand over the investigation to the central agency.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court, the state government maintained that state police was competent to hold investigation and it had conducted a thorough probe in the case covering all aspects including whether there was a plan to traffic Akhila outside the country.