835 cases, 1682 arrests: UP’s clampdown on unlawful religious conversions in four years

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government brought a stringent law to prevent instances of illegal religious conversions.

As many as 835 cases have been registered and a total of 1,682 individuals arrested in the last four years under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act that was brought into force in 2020 by the Yogi Adityanath-led government in the state.

Since the inception of the law, the state has led a fierce crackdown against forced and unlawful religious conversions. As per official data, a total of 835 cases have been filed and 1,682 persons have been arrested till July 31 this year as part of the government’s crackdown, reports News18.com.

According to Prashant Kumar, Director General of Police (DGP), Uttar Pradesh, the investigations into all these cases of unlawful conversions are being overseen by senior officials of the police department.

The DGP said that police officers have been asked to initiate action based on evidence and ensure action against anyone offering allurement, inducement, and adopting illegal means to carry out religious conversions.
According to the top cop, the UP Police has filed chargesheets in about 818 cases, amounting to 98% of the cases so far. As many as 17 cases are currently under investigation.

In the 835 cases registered so far, 124 people named in complaints were let off after their involvement could not be found. Overall, 2,708 persons were named in the 835 cases filed. As many as 70 other persons named in these cases have surrendered in court.

What is Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act?

Taking a stern view of the mounting cases of illegal conversions in the state, the Uttar Pradesh government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath enacted the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act that provides for “prohibition on conversion to another religion through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means or by marriage”.

The law, first brought through an ordinance, further said that marriages carried out for the sole purpose of unlawful conversion or vice versa would be declared void. It also made all offences listed under the law as cognizable, non-bailable and triable by the Sessions court.

Cases under the anti-unlawful conversion law in UP

In a recent case, a Muslim woman from Lucknow accused her husband Ashraf, a shrine head in Karnataka, of engaging in a love jihad campaign under the anti-conversion laws. The case was transferred to Bengaluru for further investigation. In another case, a couple, travelling with Brazilian tourists, was charged with compelling people to convert to Christianity in Sitapur.

In a similar case, eight officials, including the vice-chancellor and two pro-vice-chancellors of the government-aided Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture, Technology and Science in Prayagraj were booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and violations of the Act.

According to the DGP, one Sitapur resident identified as Jubrail, booked under the Act, has been absconding since December last year. On the other hand, another individual identified as Afzal from Amroha has been sentenced to five years in prison and fined Rs 40,000.

UP strengthens law against unlawful conversions

In July this year, the UP Assembly cleared an amendment Bill making all crimes under this law as punishable. The amended Bill also made punishments for violators under the revised extendable to life imprisonment and the penalty to Rs 5 lakh. Earlier, a maximum punishment of 10 years and a fine of Rs 50,000 was provided under it.

Further more, the amended provisions now allow any person to register an FIR in conversion cases. Earlier, the presence of the victim, parents, siblings was necessary. The cases under law will not be heard by any court below sessions court and the bail plea will not be considered without giving an opportunity to the public prosecutor.