On 10th January, Hamirpur Police in Uttar Pradesh booked Nooruddin, Meraju Hasan, Khalik, Irfan, and Mohammad Hanif for the forced conversion of a Hindu Dalit family. The FIR under Section 351(2) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act against the five was lodged based on the complaint of a woman named Urmila. According to the FIR copy accessed by OpIndia, the accused attempted to convert the family under the guise of medical and financial help.
▶️हमीरपुर:-धर्मांतरण का मामला आया सामने,अजीत वर्मा बना आदिल खान
— IBC24 News (@IBC24News) January 10, 2025
▶️अजीत वर्मा के घर में बनायीं गयी है पीर बाबा की मजार
▶️मजार की स्थापना में कई दलित हिन्दुओ को इक्कट्ठा किया गया कब्बली का प्रोग्राम
▶️पूर्व में नायब तहसीलदार भी हुए थे धर्मांतरण के शिकार
▶️अवैध मदरसों के बाद ब्रेन… pic.twitter.com/2Uoe1WGbDS
The incident came to light when a video went viral on social media where an event was being organised at the house of the victim after establishing a mazar. Hindu organisations took cognisance of the matter immediately and approached the police. Following the complaint by the Hindu organisations, the police swung into action and stopped the event.
According to media reports, Ajit and his wife Urmila are residents of Tarraus Colony in Moudaha Police Station Area. A Qawwali event was organised at Ajit’s residence, who allegedly converted to Islam and established a mazar at his house. He had reportedly invited relatives and people to attend the event where the accused had planned to lure more people to convert to Islam.
Upon getting information about the conversion racket, the police reached Ajit’s house and stopped the event. The Maulana and others involved in the matter were arrested by the police. Ajit told the police that his wife had not been well for several years. During that time, Nooruddin, a resident of Banda, came in contact with him. He told Ajit that if he established a mazar at his house, Urmila would get better.
After that, Nooruddin came to Ajit’s house, established the mazar, and converted Ajit to Adil Khan.
Speaking to media, Ajit said, “They [accused] came to our house and set-up mazar. We did not convert. We are Hindu and will remain Hindu.” His wife Urmila said, “We don’t know what urs is. We don’t understand what is happening.”
Allegations mentioned in the FIR
According to the complaint submitted by Urmila to Hamirpur Police, she belongs to the Scheduled Caste (Ahirwar) and lives in Tarraus Colony in Moudaha, Hamirpur district. She was unwell for years and struggled with issues at home. During that time, Nooruddin, a Banda resident, approached her and her husband Ajit. He allegedly advised them to set up a mazar in their house, promising that it would cure her illness and solve their problems.
She stated, “Nooruddin said that if we established a mazar and worshipped it, all our troubles would disappear.” She further alleged that Nooruddin, along with his nephew Meraju Hasan and another associate, Khalik, came to her house and built the mazar in one of the rooms.
Furthermore, she said that the accused continued to visit the house and persuaded the couple to convert to Islam. “They told us that converting would elevate us from a lower caste to a higher caste in Islam and that we would receive financial support for life,” Urmila said.
On the day of the incident, Nooruddin, Khalik, Irfan, and Mohammad Hanif, along with several other individuals, gathered at Urmila’s house and organised a religious event, including an Urs (religious gathering) and Fatiha. The accused allegedly invited the couple’s relatives to attend the event and tried to persuade them to convert as well.
Realising the intentions of the accused, Urmila and her husband decided not to convert. “We understood that they were trying to trap us and force us to leave our religion,” Urmila said. She added that the accused also threatened to kill them if they refused to convert.
Statement by the police
In a video statement, the Additional Superintendent of Police, Hamirpur, said, “Police got the information about an illegal religious conversion event being held at a house. Based on the victim’s complaint, an FIR has been registered.”
थाना मौदहा क्षेत्र अंतर्गत घटना के संबंध में अपर पुलिस अधीक्षक जनपद हमीरपुर द्वारा दी गई बाइट।#uppolice pic.twitter.com/WkUM4tuOgj
— HAMIRPUR POLICE (@hamirpurpolice) January 10, 2025
Further investigation into the matter is underway.
