Latest news with #UttarPradeshProhibitionofUnlawfulConversionofReligionAct
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Man accused of ‘inter-state conversion racket' held from Delhi
Agra: The alleged mastermind of an inter-state "illegal conversion network" has been arrested from Delhi's Mustafabad, Agra Police said on Monday. Abdul Rahman, alias 'Rehman Chacha' (in his 50s), is the 11th individual arrested in connection with the network, which police claim was "supported by banned outfits PFI and SDPI, Pakistan-based handlers, and foreign funding". A special Agra police team also rescued a woman in her 20s from his residence. She was allegedly "awaiting conversion" and had been reported as missing in an abduction case filed in Haryana's Rohtak. Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar said Rahman was identified as a key figure in the network after one of the previously arrested accused named him. During interrogation, Rahman, originally from Firozabad, is believed to have said that he converted to Islam in 1990 and moved to Delhi, where he worked as a labourer. He later became closely associated with Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, the former "mastermind" of the network. After Siddiqui's arrest in 2021 and sentencing to life imprisonment in 2024, Rahman took over the operation, said Kumar. Documents seized from Rahman's home, including a book authored by Siddiqui, were cited as further evidence of his links to the conversion network. The material allegedly had content intended to radicalise readers. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Dubai villas | search ads Undo "The network received foreign funds from Canada and the US, targeted vulnerable women through emotional manipulation, promoted radicalisation through curated content, and facilitated conversions," said Kumar. Rahman has been charged under BNS sections 87 (kidnapping) and 111 (organised crime), as well as relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. An FIR had already been registered at the Sadar Bazar Police Station in Agra. Investigation in the case began after the disappearance of two sisters, aged 33 and 18, from Agra. Police say they were allegedly lured and converted by two men, Shekhar Roy and Osama, from Kolkata. Their arrest led to the unravelling of a wider network, resulting in the arrests of other individuals in Goa, Agra, Jaipur, Muzaffarnagar, Delhi and Dehradun.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
10 arrested from six states for running inter-state religious conversion, radicalisation racket
Lucknow: While probing the mysterious disappearance of two sisters, aged 33 and 18, in Agra, Uttar Pradesh Police uncovered a sophisticated network involved in illegal religious conversions and radicalisation. The breakthrough led to a coordinated crackdown and the arrest of 10 operatives across six states, including fresh arrests on Saturday. The first arrest came of Shekhar Roy and Osama from Kolkata, who had trapped the two sisters from Agra and converted them. Their arrest led to the uncovering of the gang. Those arrested include a woman named SB Krishna from Goa, Shekhar Roy and Osama from Kolkata, Rehman Qureshi from Agra, Mohammed Ali, Ali and Junaid Qureshi from Jaipur, Abu Talib from Muzaffarnagar, Manoj from Delhi, and Abur Rehman from Dehradun. An Agra court granted a ten-day police custody remand for all the ten accused. Director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna in Lucknow told reporters that the network operated through "love jihad" tactics, online radicalisation, and foreign funding from Canada, the USA, Dubai, and London, with transactions routed via dark web. "The network was funnelling money through the dark web and adopting tactics resembling the signature style of ISIS," the state police chief said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Preliminary findings suggest that the group had active ties with banned outfits like PFI and SDPI, with handlers connected to Pakistan-based operatives. The DGP said that the action forms part of 'Mission Asmita', an internal initiative launched to confront emerging challenges, including alleged forced/deceitful conversion, online radicalisation, and funding channels purportedly exploiting "love jihad" tactics. "In the past, under this mission, we made arrests of Umar Gautam and Mufti Jahangir Alam, who were arrested by UP ATS in 2021 for running a pan-India religious conversion racket. The two were also convicted for a life term by a court in 2024," said another senior police officer. Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar, who came all the way to Lucknow, said that it all began after an FIR was registered regarding the March disappearance of two sisters. It was lodged at Sadar Bazar police station, Agra, and later transferred for technical probes to the district cyber police station. Sections 87, 111(3), and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 3/5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, were invoked. Investigators say evidence pointed to a wider organised operation spanning multiple states. "When we dug deeper, a pan-India syndicate surfaced. Forty-five teams were sent to Goa, West Bengal, Delhi, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan, based on surveillance. We made arrests and found that the network allegedly targeted vulnerable women through emotional manipulation, facilitated radicalisation via curated content, and arranged conversions with necessary documentation. It provided safe houses, managed foreign funds from Canada and the US, and offered operational support, including new phones, SIM cards, legal assistance, and internal communication channels," said Kumar. "We will now conduct a sustained interrogation of the accused," said Kumar.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
UP Police drops major bombshell in Changur case, arrests multiple accused linked to ISIS - The Economic Times Video
Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna reveals names of 10 people across 6 states who have been arrested in connection with unlawful religious conversion alias SB Krishna from Goa, Ali Hasan alias Shekhar Rai from Kolkata, Osama from Kolkata, Rehman Qureshi from Agra, Abu Talib from Muzaffarnagar, Abur Rehman from Dehradun, Mohd Ali from Jaipur, Junaid Qureshi from Jaipur, Mustafa alias Manoj from Delhi, Mohd Ali from Jaipur have been arrested. Agra SSP Deepak Kumar said, "In March this year, a missing report of Ameena and Zoya - two sisters aged 33 and 18, was registered at Thana Sadar Bazar PS. Going by the seriousness of the matter, case was registered under sections of BNS and Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. Then the case was transferred to our Cyber PS. The complete information was shared with DGP (L&O) and was found that a few people across 6 states, were encouraging radicalisation and involved in love jihad. This was foreign-funded from Canada, collecting evidence, NBW against accused persons was collected from Agra Court. We sent our team to 11 locations across Bengal, Goa, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan and Uttar arrested 10 accused. We found evidence of using love jihad, conversion and radicalisation through foreign funds in this network. This modus operando is the signature style of ISIS..."
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
UP Police Bust Unlawful Religious Conversions Syndicate, Arrest 10 People
The Uttar Pradesh Police, under Mission Asmita, have arrested 10 individuals across six states in a crackdown on an unlawful religious conversion syndicate. The UP Police held a press conference to provide information about the syndicate. The operation, led by the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF), uncovered foreign funding from Canada, the US, London, and Dubai, with links to radicalisation and terror groups, including alleged ties to PFI, SDPI, and Pakistani terror organisations. Key accused Mohammad Umar Gautam, Mufti Jahangir Alam Qasmi, and Chhangur Baba alias Jamaluddin were apprehended for orchestrating conversions through enticement and "love jihad," targeting young girls. The syndicate's methods mirror ISIS tactics, with investigations ongoing to probe international "jihadi" funding aimed at threatening national security. During the press conference, Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna stated, "UP Police had launched Mission Asmita, where a few accused of the unlawful religious conversion syndicate were arrested. The ATS arrested Mohammad Umar Gautam and Mufti Jahangir Alam Qasmi. In this connection, the unlawful religious conversion syndicate of Chhangur Baba alias Jamaluddin alias Jamaluddin was busted. The ATS and STF investigations are underway. Few shocking things have come to light - international 'jihadi' funding for 'jihad' was received, radicalisation and unlawful religious conversion to hamper national security..." He further added, "In this connection, 10 people across 6 states have been arrested. They especially influenced young girls through enticement, love jihad and other methods for religious conversion. This modus operandi of unlawful religious conversion is the signature of ISIS. So far, in preliminary investigation, there are indications of this group having ties with PFI, SDPI and Pakistani terror far, evidence has been gathered about funding from Canada, America, London and Dubai and involvement of people residing there. Further action is being taken." In a related case, Agra Police arrested 10 individuals following a missing persons report of two sisters, Ameena (33) and Zoya (18), in March 2025. The case, registered under BNS sections and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, revealed a network promoting radicalisation and conversions through foreign funds. Agra SSP Deepak Kumar said, "In March this year, a missing report of Ameena and Zoya - two sisters aged 33 and 18, was registered at Thana Sadar Bazar PS. Going by the seriousness of the matter, the case was registered under sections of the BNS and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. Then the case was transferred to our Cyber PS. The complete information was shared with DGP (L&O) and ADG..." Agra SSP Deepak Kumar confirmed that non-bailable warrants were issued, and teams were dispatched to 11 locations across Bengal, Goa, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh to apprehend the accused. Evidence points to the use of "love jihad" and radicalisation tactics, with the syndicate's operations reflecting ISIS's signature style.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
‘Mission Asmita': UP Police busts pan-India conversion, radicalisation network; 10 held
Representative Image (AI) LUCKNOW: Acting under the state government's stated 'zero tolerance' policy on organised crime, Uttar Pradesh Police on Saturday claimed to have dismantled a pan-India network allegedly involved in illegal religious conversion, radicalisation, and financial facilitation. Ten suspects were arrested from six states, following the disappearance of two adult sisters from Agra in March. According to officials, an FIR regarding the disappearance of two real sisters, aged 33 and 18, was lodged at Sadar Bazar police station, Agra, in March and later transferred to the district cyber police station for technical investigation. Sections 87, 111(3), and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3/5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, were invoked. Investigators said evidence pointed to a wider organised operation spanning multiple states. DGP Rajeev Krishna said the action was part of 'Mission Asmita,' an internal initiative launched to tackle emerging challenges, including alleged forced or deceitful religious conversions, online radicalisation, and financial channels exploiting so-called 'love jihad' tactics (a politically charged term, the use of which remains under official investigation). by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologists Confirm: 60-Year-Old Sheds Fat With 4 Ingredients The Healthy Way Learn More Undo Police teams were dispatched to West Bengal, Goa, Uttarakhand, Delhi, Rajasthan, and within Uttar Pradesh, and arrested the following 10 suspects (names and aliases as provided by police; their exact roles are under verification): Aisha (alias S.B. Krishna) – Goa Ali Hasan (alias Shekhar…) – Kolkata, West Bengal Osama – Kolkata, West Bengal Rehman Qureshi – Agra, Uttar Pradesh Abbu Tariq – Khalapar, Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh Abdur Rehman – Dehradun, Uttarakhand Mohammad Ali – Jaipur, Rajasthan Junaid Qureshi – Jaipur, Rajasthan Mustafa (alias Manoj) – Delhi Mohammad Ali – Jaipur, Rajasthan (duplicate listing by police under verification) DGP Rajeev Krishna said, 'In a crackdown, 10 suspects were arrested across six states, exposing a sinister web of terror financing and radical recruitment. The network was funneling money through the dark web to support extremist activities and 'love jihad' operations, adopting tactics resembling the signature style of ISIS. Preliminary findings suggest the group had active ties to banned outfits like PFI and SDPI, with handlers connected to Pakistan-based operatives. Agra emerged as one of the key hubs of this network, where radicalisation modules were being developed and funds distributed.'
