Uttar Pradesh Police have dismantled an interstate religious conversion racket in Bareilly, arresting four individuals, including a madrasa cleric, for allegedly luring vulnerable Hindus with promises of marriage and money. The operation, uncovered on Tuesday, led to the rescue of a visually impaired man held captive for forced conversion, officials confirmed.

The arrested suspects, identified as Abdul Majeed (35), a madrasa cleric from Faiznagar; Salman (30) and Mohammad Arif from Kareli; and Faheem, a hairdresser, operated a network spanning 13 states and 30 districts. A fifth suspect, Mehmood Beg, remains at large. The group faces charges under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021, among other laws, according to SP (South) Anshika Verma.

The racket targeted vulnerable individuals, including the poor, unmarried youth, and those with disabilities. Salman, a tailor, approached Hindu families under the guise of offering help or introducing Muslim women for marriage. Faheem identified potential targets at his salon, luring them to the madrasa for "brainwashing" with religious texts and CDs. Police raids uncovered incriminating materials, including books, CDs, and conversion certificates, at the Faiznagar madrasa.

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The case came to light after Akhilesh Kumari from Aligarh reported that her son, Prabhat Upadhyay, a visually impaired teacher, was lured by Abdul Majeed with a marriage promise. Upadhyay was held captive, forced to convert, and renamed "Hamid." When Kumari threatened to file a complaint, she received death threats. A police raid on the madrasa rescued Upadhyay, who was found surrounded by the accused.

Investigations revealed the gang operated 21 bank accounts with significant transactions, suggesting foreign funding, possibly from the USA and Canada, similar to a recent Agra case. Six other men previously converted by the group have been identified, with their conversion certificates recovered. Police suspect more victims and are intensifying efforts to apprehend Mehmood Beg and uncover the full extent of the network.

This bust follows a pattern of conversion rackets in Uttar Pradesh, with similar cases reported in Agra and Balrampur earlier this year. The state’s anti-conversion law, enacted in 2020, has led to over 1,000 arrests since its inception, targeting coerced or fraudulent conversions.

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