1,000 people forcibly converted in UP, Yogi orders strong action under NSA, Gangster Act

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday ordered action under the Gangster Act and National Security Act against those involved in the alleged forced conversion of more than 1,000 people in the state. He also ordered the confiscation of the properties of those who are accused in the conversion case.

A source told The Daily Guardian that investigation of foreign funding has started in the conversion case in Uttar Pradesh. Sources said that foreign funding came in the form of donations. Investigating agencies are also identifying the accounts in which this money came from abroad. The Uttar Pradesh ATS on Monday arrested two men involved in religious conversion in the state. The two accused, Umar Gautam and Jahangir, have allegedly forced more than 1,000 people to convert to another religion.

One of the accused revealed that he is a resident of Batla House in Jamia Nagar and he himself is a convert.

According to police, the duo targeted poor families, unemployed youth, and handicapped people, especially those who were hearing and speech impaired, children and forced them to change their religion.

Prashant Kumar, Uttar Pradesh ADG (Law and Order), said that the arrested were running a conversion racket. He also mentioned that this might be a case of funding from ISI for religious conversions. During interrogation, the duo informed that they converted around 250-300 people every year. They met people who were economically weak, including women, children and disabled. He said that around 1,500 children at a deaf and dumb school in Noida converted, adding that thousands of such cases have been reported across the state.

According to police, Umar Gautam himself had converted. He is a resident of Batla House in Jamia Nagar. The top cop said that people were lured to convert their religion for money and financial stability. He added that many women have been forced to change their religion and were married off.

An FIR has been lodged with the Gomtinagar police station under the state’s anti-conversion law. The name of the chairman of Islamic Da’wah Centre is also mentioned in the FIR.

WITH AGENCY INPUTS