A case of forcible religious conversion to Islam in Patiala has come to fore. An ailing man belonging to the Sikh community was coerced into converting into Islam. When he resisted the proselytising attempts imposed upon him, he was mercilessly thrashed for refusing to embrace Islam.
After remaining silent for 3 days after he was assaulted, the victim, Kirandeep Singh, overcame his fear and lodged a complaint with the police. According to Singh, on October 6, he was first forcibly made to read Kalma and Quran in Hira Bagh, Patiala and was later asked to become a Muslim. However, when he did not comply with the demands of his assaulters, he was brutally beaten up by them. Victim Kirandeep Singh said that he works as a security guard in a car showroom in Hira Bagh.
After completing its investigation, the police has booked eight people. The accused Anwar Khan and his seven unknown accomplices are still absconding. In the complaint registered with the police, Singh said that when he had contracted an illness last year, his neighbour Anwar said that someone has done black magic on him. To resolve this, Anwar had taken him to several Muslim religious places. In these places, he was taught to read Kalma. During this time, Singh’s health started improving.
After that, the prime accused Anwar assured him that he would get well completely after reading the Quran. Kirandeep said that he followed everything that was asked of him by Anwar. After this, Anwar started pressurising him for conversion to Islam but Singh refused to shun Sikhism. Anwar said that he has already become half Muslim, so he should embrace Islam completely, but Kirandeep didn’t agree. He was subsequently pounded by Anwar’s men for his defiance to not accept Islam.