On 29th January (Thursday), a 23-year-old Hindu youth named Deepak Singh alias Rohit took his own life after reportedly facing pressure for religious conversion in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur. He even recorded a video before taking the extreme step and expressed, “I am being forced to convert, but I will remain true to my belief.” The incident transpired in Ratanpur police outpost area which falls under the jurisdiction of the Panki police station. Singh hanged himself in a locked room after he was reportedly assaulted and taken to a mazar.
The video, which he had posted prior to his death, became viral on social media the next day. “I am Deepak Singh Gaur. I am being forced to change my religion, but I will stay loyal to my faith. To anyone watching this video, I urge you to take note: ganja must be prohibited in India and women deserve respect. That is my sole request. I extend my apologies to everyone I have met. I made mistakes. I am contemplating suicide. Religious conversions are occurring throughout India,” he can be heard voicing in the footage.
धर्म परिवर्तन के दबाव से परेशान युवक ने फांसी लगाकर आत्महत्या कर ली। घटना पनकी थाना क्षेत्र की रतनपुर चौकी इलाके की है। सुसाइड से पहले युवक ने एक वीडियो बनाया, जिसमें धर्म परिवर्तन के लिए दबाव बनाए जाने की बात कही है। परिजनों ने शव रख लगाया जाम।@kanpurnagarpol #Kanpur pic.twitter.com/Omsr8ihLjR
— Shyam Tiwari (@Shyamtiwariknp) January 30, 2026
Singh’s sister Nisha Singh said that he had travelled to her residence to meet her in Lucknow on 26th January. He did not respond to any calls from Unnao to Charbagh in Lucknow. Upon his arrival, he tearfully shared how he had been pushed into embracing another religion. Singh told her that he encountered four individuals on the train who harassed and assaulted him and then forcefully took him to a mazar in Charbagh.
Additionally, his family members expressed that Singh was suffering from mental distress due to the pressure to convert. They added that the matter was previously reported to the police, but no action was taken. It was this sense of frustration that led him to take such a drastic measure. The grieving family also disclosed the young man’s ordeal at the Charbagh railway station.
His family members and locals organised a protest by placing his body on the road, demanding action against those responsible. They charged that no meaningful action was taken despite filing complaints with the local police, which they believe exacerbated the issue. Meanwhile, the authorities rushed to the location to pacify the demonstrators and subsequently sent the body for a post-mortem examination.
According to other reports, Singh’s mother discovered him hanging through a window when she went to wake him up. The police had uncovered the video from his mobile phone during the examination.
Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal informed that a First Information Report (FIR) has been registered and two investigation teams have been dispatched while the deceased’s footage is being examined. Police assured that call records and CCTV footage from Charbagh station will be reviewed in order to confirm the family’s allegations.
थाना पनकी अंतर्गत एक धर्म-परिवर्तन से संबंधित प्रकरण संज्ञान में आया है- इस मामले में एक युवक द्वारा आत्महत्या किए जाने से पूर्व सोशल मीडिया पर एक वीडियो वायरल किया गया है। प्रकरण में मृतक की पहचान रोहित उर्फ दीपक, उम्र लगभग 23 वर्ष, निवासी कानपुर नगर के रूप में हुई है। मृतक… pic.twitter.com/mF7wb69T1b
— POLICE COMMISSIONERATE KANPUR NAGAR (@kanpurnagarpol) January 30, 2026
The victim had completed 12th grade and was running a grocery story after working as an auto-rickshaw driver. He was taken to hospital but then his body was brought back and the family had initially refused the post-mortem.
