Karnataka missing woman, son found at Kerala madrassa; 2 held
Synopsis
A missing woman and her nine-year-old son from Karnataka's Kushalnagar were found at a madrassa in Kerala's Malappuram — and police say evidence of religious conversion was discovered. Two men, including the woman's employer, have been arrested. Hindu organisations are alleging a wider conversion network, but police say the investigation is still ongoing.
Key Takeaways
Sanchita and her nine-year-old son from Kushalnagar, Madikeri district were traced to a madrassa in Malappuram, Kerala .
Two persons — Saleem (textile shop owner) and Jaleel — have been arrested by Karnataka police .
Investigators reportedly found evidence of religious conversion ; circumcision of the child has also been alleged but not officially confirmed.
Hindu organisations allege a conversion network is operating from the NTC building complex in Kushalnagar, targeting Hindu women employees.
Whether the woman travelled voluntarily or under coercion remains a central question; the investigation is ongoing.
A missing persons case from Kushalnagar in Madikeri district, Karnataka, has taken a contentious turn after a woman identified as Sanchita and her nine-year-old son were traced to a madrassa in Malappuram district, Kerala, prompting the arrest of two persons by Karnataka police. The case, which surfaced on 19 June, has drawn sharp reactions from Hindu organisations who allege it is connected to a wider conversion network.
How the Case Unfolded
Sanchita had been employed for approximately three years at a textile shop in Kushalnagar, owned by a man identified as Saleem, who had reportedly been running the establishment for nearly a decade. When she and her son went missing, her husband grew alarmed and approached the Kushalnagar police, suspecting Saleem's involvement. Initially, the working theory was that she had eloped with the shop owner.
Hindu organisations also extended support to the family during the search, and their members participated in efforts to locate the missing duo. A subsequent search operation led police across state lines to Malappuram, where both the woman and child were found at the madrassa.
Arrests and Investigation
Saleem and a second accused, identified as Jaleel, have been arrested in connection with the case. Investigators are working to establish the precise circumstances under which the woman and her son travelled to Kerala and whether any coercion or inducement was involved. Officials have not yet publicly disclosed the full findings of the inquiry.
During the investigation, police reportedly found evidence suggesting that the woman and her son had undergone a religious conversion. It has also been alleged — though not yet officially confirmed — that the child underwent a circumcision ritual after arriving in Kerala. Authorities have attributed these details to ongoing investigative findings and have stopped short of drawing formal conclusions.
Allegations by Hindu Organisations
Several Hindu organisations have alleged that a systematic religious conversion network is operating out of the NTC building complex in Kushalnagar, where Sanchita was employed, and that Hindu women working in various shops in the complex are being targeted. The groups have demanded a comprehensive probe and stringent action, further alleging that similar networks are active in the Ponnani and Manjeri regions of Malappuram district.
These allegations of so-called 'love jihad' remain contested and unverified by police at this stage. Karnataka police have stated that the investigation is ongoing and that further action will be taken based on the inquiry's findings.
What Happens Next
Investigators are expected to examine the roles of both arrested accused in detail, including any links to broader networks alleged by Hindu groups. The welfare of the woman and her minor son — and whether she acted of her own volition — will be central to the inquiry's direction. The case has already drawn political attention in both Karnataka and Kerala, and further developments are anticipated as the investigation progresses.
Point of View
Or did she act of her own free will? Everything else — the conversion allegations, the circumcision claim, the network theory — remains unverified. Karnataka police have been careful not to endorse the Hindu organisations' framing, and that restraint is appropriate. Rushing to a political verdict before the facts are established risks both a miscarriage of justice and communal escalation in a region that has seen tensions before.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sanchita and why was she reported missing?
Sanchita is a woman from Kushalnagar in Madikeri district, Karnataka, who had been working at a local textile shop. She went missing along with her nine-year-old son, prompting her husband to file a complaint with the Kushalnagar police suspecting the shop owner's involvement.
Where were the missing woman and her son found?
They were traced to a madrassa in Malappuram district, Kerala, following a search operation by Karnataka police that crossed state lines.
Who has been arrested in the Kushalnagar missing case?
Two men have been arrested: Saleem, the owner of the textile shop where Sanchita worked, and another accused identified as Jaleel. Both were taken into custody by Karnataka police.
What are the 'love jihad' allegations in this case?
Several Hindu organisations have alleged that the incident is linked to an organised religious conversion network operating from the NTC building complex in Kushalnagar, and that similar networks are active in Ponnani and Manjeri in Malappuram. These allegations remain unverified; police have not confirmed them and say the investigation is ongoing.
Has the woman's religious conversion been confirmed by police?
Police reportedly found evidence suggesting religious conversion during the investigation, but officials have not publicly confirmed the full details. Whether the woman acted voluntarily or under coercion is the central question investigators are working to establish.
