It's love jihad: Man performs daughter's funeral rights over interfaith marriage

The man, Sujan Dutta, shaved his head and performed the funeral rites for his living daughter. Following the ritual, he said that he would no longer maintain any familial ties with his daughter.Sujan Dutta performed funeral rites of his daughterA man in Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur performed funeral rites (pind daan) for his living daughter on September 19. He took the step after she married a Muslim man and converted to Islam.The man, identified as Sujan Dutta, along with other members of the family, alleged that his daughter had fallen prey to ‘love jihad’, a term used for an unproven conspiracy theory claiming that Muslim men trap non-Muslim women in romantic relationships to facilitate religious conversion. He also announced that he was ending all familial ties with her.India Today has not independently verified the claims.Family members also said that Dutta first tried to persuade his daughter, Simran, to reconsider her decision. After multiple attempts failed, he decided to perform the funeral rites. On Saturday, priests came to Dutta’s house and performed sacred chants. In their presence, Dutta shaved his head and performed the funeral rites for his living daughter. Following the ritual, he said that he would no longer maintain any familial ties with his daughter.Members of the Bengali community also came to his home and offered support to Dutta and other family members.YOU HAVE HELD OUR HEADS HIGH: BENGALI COMMUNITY MEMBERS TELL DUTTA Several representatives of the Bengali community in the Bastar division also visited the family during the ritual.Jibanand Haldar, president of the All India Bengali Coordination Committee’s Bastar division, along with Pradeep Guha and other members of the organisation, met Dutta. They offered him moral support and congratulated him for “awakening the conscience of their society."“You have held our heads high. You made the entire Bengali society proud. We congratulate you on the courage that you have shown. Do not live in grief as we are with you, always,” one of the members said.Community representatives said families should ensure that children remain connected to their traditions, culture and family values.They also expressed concern over interfaith relationships and religious conversions, and appealed to families to ensure that children are familiar with their cultural traditions and social values.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Sep 21, 2026 07:55 IST