Bareilly: FIR Registered Against Five Minor Muslim Girls Under UP's Anti-Conversion Law
In a sensitive development from Moradabad, an FIR has been officially registered under Section 3 of the stringent Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act against five minor Muslim girls. The girls, aged between 15 and 17 years, are accused of allegedly getting their 16-year-old Hindu friend to wear a burqa.
Incident Details and Police Action
The incident reportedly took place on December 12, 2025, but has come to light only now after police confirmed the registration of the case. The complaint was filed by the Hindu girl's brother, Daksh Chaudhary, on Friday at the Bilari police station.
SP (Rural) in Moradabad, Kunwar Akash Singh, stated to the media, "As soon as we received the complaint, an FIR was registered and further investigation is on." He emphasized that the matter is being handled with due diligence given its sensitive nature.
Legal Implications and Potential Punishment
Section 3 of the anti-conversion law specifically deals with the "prohibition of conversion from one religion to another by misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, and allurement." If found guilty under this provision, especially since the victim is a minor, the accused could face severe penalties.
The law stipulates rigorous imprisonment for a term "which shall not be less than 5 years but which may extend to 14 years." This highlights the gravity with which such cases are treated under the current legal framework in Uttar Pradesh.
Complainant's Account and Social Media Circulation
Daksh Chaudhary, the complainant, explained his concerns to the media, saying, "My sister was talking to one of the girls whom she'd met about two months back and had been going out regularly with. The five girls who took away my sister in burqa may have had some ill intention. So, I approached cops at Bilari police station."
A purported video of the incident has been widely circulated on social media platforms. The minute-long clip shows the girls in a narrow alley between houses, with one of them wearing a burqa over her dress while the others assist her.
Police Investigation and Minor Status Considerations
According to a police officer privy to the case, "The accused girls and the Hindu girl are friends. All are believed to be minors. That afternoon, they were on their way to a restaurant which crosses the victim's brother's shop. They didn't want him to know about it. Fearful of getting caught, the Hindu girl may have worn her friends' burqa."
The officer added that since it is a sensitive matter, the local police proceeded with registering the case based on the family member's complaint. "Further investigation is on to find out the backgrounds of the young girls and their motive, if any, behind the incident," he noted.
Given that all involved are minors, police clarified that they cannot be immediately taken into custody. The investigation will continue to ascertain the full context and intentions behind the burqa-wearing incident.
