Demolition Drive Against Properties Of UP's Chhangur Baba, Mastermind In Religious Conversion Gang

The Uttar Pradesh administration, in the presence of police, took action on the properties belonging to Chhangur Baba aka Jalaluddin, who is the alleged mastermind of a religious conversion gang.

UP CM's First Reaction

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the BJP government is "fully committed to the dignity and safety of sisters and daughters" as the early investigations have revealed that Baba was involved in anti-social and anti-national activities.

In a post in X, he said, "The Uttar Pradesh government will not tolerate any laxity in matters of law and order. The properties of the accused and all criminals associated with his gang will be confiscated, and strict legal action will be taken against them. There is no place in the state for those who disrupt peace, harmony, and the safety of women. They will be punished in accordance with the law in a manner that serves as an example for society."

Case At Gomtinagar

Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba and co-accused Neetu alias Nasreen, who were arrested on Saturday, are residents of Madhpur in Balrampur district, PTI reported citing an official statement. The case has been lodged at Gomtinagar police station in Lucknow under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.

As per the officials, the accused acted in an organised manner to convert individuals from Hindu and non-Muslim communities to Islam. "The poor, helpless labourers, weaker sections, and widowed women were lured with incentives, financial aid, promises of marriage, or forced through intimidation, in violation of established procedures for religious conversion by the accused," the statement said.

It is reported that earlier Naveen alias Jamaluddin and Mehboob (Jalaluddin's son) were arrested on April 8. Both are currently lodged in Lucknow District Jail, the statement said.

Babita Chauhan Demands Death Penalty

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh State Women Commission chairperson Babita Chauhan has demanded the death penalty for Baba.

Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba is accused of targeting girls from several communities and even maintained a 'rate list' for conversions, officials said. The shocking revelation has sparked statewide outrage.

Chauhan called his actions a "well-orchestrated conspiracy" and that "our daughters are not laboratories to test the toxic ideology of forced conversion." People who deceive girls and rob them of their faith are enemies of society, she said, claiming that such criminals deserve the death penalty.

The UP's Anti Conversion Law

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Conversion Law, formally known as the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and its subsequent amendments, is a legislative framework aimed at prohibiting unlawful religious conversions in the state. It seeks to prevent conversions from one religion to another that are achieved through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement, fraudulent means, or solely for marriage.