Police Uncover Alleged Conversion Network in Akbarpur
In a significant development, the Kanpur Dehat police in Uttar Pradesh have dismantled an alleged racket involved in unlawful religious conversions. The operation led to the arrest of three individuals, including a woman, from the Akbarpur area. The accused are charged with converting people from the scheduled castes by offering them various incentives.
Complaint Leads to FIR and Swift Arrests
The case came to light following complaints from local residents in Akbarpur about mass conversions to Christianity. The police stated that the conversions were allegedly carried out by luring people with valuables and money. Based on a formal complaint filed by a local man, Ram Bharose, authorities registered a First Information Report (FIR) on January 9.
The FIR was lodged under the stringent Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. A dedicated police team investigating the allegations moved quickly and apprehended the three accused on January 10, just a day after the case was filed.
Accused Identified and Modus Operandi Revealed
The arrested individuals have been identified as Daniel Sharad Singh from Jhansi, Hariom alias Hariom Tyagi from Akbarpur, and Savitri Sharma from Akbarpur town. During interrogation, the accused reportedly revealed details of their operation to the police.
Police investigations indicate that the trio used a vocational training centre, which was registered in Andhra Pradesh, as a front for their activities. Under the guise of this centre, they would allegedly preach Christianity and target individuals from the scheduled castes, offering them incentives to convert.
From the mobile phones of the accused, the police have seized crucial digital evidence. This includes:
- Photographs and videos related to the alleged conversions.
- Bible lessons and other religious study material.
- Detailed information about people who were reportedly converted.
Interstate Links and Further Investigations
The Kanpur Dehat police are not treating this as an isolated local incident. They are now delving deeper to uncover the broader network behind this racket. A key focus of the ongoing investigation is to trace any interstate connections and explore potential links to foreign funding that may have supported the alleged conversion activities.
This bust highlights the active enforcement of the state's anti-conversion law and sends a strong message against unlawful religious conversion activities. The police have assured that the investigation will continue to identify all individuals involved in the network.
