Accused in Conversion Racket Claims Victimhood

A man named Mohammad Ali, previously known as Piyush Panwar, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police as part of a crackdown on an alleged illegal religious conversion racket. Ali, who claims to be a victim himself, expressed his desire to reconvert to Hinduism. He is among ten individuals apprehended from six different states in connection with the ‘love jihad’ case. The investigation began in Agra after two sisters were reported missing, leading authorities to uncover a network allegedly involved in forced conversions and radicalization.

The Investigation Unfolds

The Agra Police Commissioner, Deepak Kumar, revealed that the probe started in March when the sisters, aged 33 and 18, went missing. Preliminary findings suggested they were targeted by a gang involved in ‘love jihad’. The investigation also uncovered financial links to the US and Canada. Under the guidance of senior police officials, the Agra police arrested ten suspects believed to be part of an organized group facilitating illegal conversions across multiple states.

Mohammad Ali’s Journey and Allegations

Ali’s story began in 2021 when he met Shana from Rajasthan’s Tonk. Their relationship led him to convert to Islam under the name Mohammad Ali. However, after his conversion, Shana rejected him. Subsequently, Ali married another Muslim woman from Bareilly. During his conversion process, he encountered individuals linked to banned organizations like the Popular Front of India (PFI). He later became involved with a cleric convicted in a separate conversion case.

Network and Arrests Under ‘Mission Asmita’

Ali’s arrest is part of ‘Mission Asmita’, an initiative targeting illegal conversion syndicates. The police have identified other key figures in the network, including Ayesha from Goa, who allegedly recorded names of converted individuals. The operation also led to the arrest of Hasan Ali and Osama from Kolkata, Rahman Qureshi from Agra, Abu Talib from Muzaffarnagar, Abdur Rehman from Dehradun, Mohammad Ali and Junaid Qureshi from Rajasthan, and Mustafa from Delhi.

Implications of the Arrests

The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement to dismantle networks involved in illegal conversions and radicalization. The police have noted similarities between the gang’s operations and those of ISIS. These developments follow the recent arrest of Chhangur Baba alias Jamaluddin, another alleged mastermind behind a religious conversion gang.