Three persons were arrested for forcibly converting locals to Christianity in Azamgarh on Tuesday.
After arresting seven persons under the new anti-conversion laws to prevent love jihad across the state, this was the first time that people were arrested for forcing villagers to adopt a different religion citing its advantages.
As per reports, the police were tipped-off that people were paid to convert to Christianity during a congregation at a resident’s house in Dih Kaithauli village under Didarganj police station on Sunday.
A villager identified as Ashok Yadav complained to the police about the incident after which three religious preachers were arrested. They were identified as Balchand of Jaunpur, Gopal Prajapati of Varanasi and Neeraj Kumar of Azamgarh.
The three preachers came to Dih village and organised a meeting at Tribhuvan Yadav’s home, allegedly to convert people to Christianity.
The trio were booked under UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020. The ordinance envisages that no person shall convert, either directly or indirectly, from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage nor shall any person abet, convince or conspire such conversion. The onus to prove that the conversion has not been done forcibly will lie on the person accused of the act and the convert.
Meanwhile in Etah, eight people, including a woman, were arrested for kidnapping a Hindu girl, converting her to Islam and getting her married.
As per reports, a 21-year-old female BA student was abducted from Jalesar town of Etah on November 17 and married after getting her religion converted.
Based on a complaint from her father, a case was registered against six identified and two unidentified persons under Section 366 of the Indian Penal Code and UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020 at Jalesar police station.
On Tuesday, eight accused — Haider Ali, Mahmood, Mehfooz, Ansar Hussain, Antar Hussain, Shahid Hussain, Ramzani and Aamreen — were arrested from Agra crossing and sent to jail.
So far, the police have sent 14 accused to jail in this connection. Besides, a reward of Rs 25,000 each has been announced on five identified accused who are on the lam and warrants for attaching their properties were issued by the court on Tuesday.