UP police arrest 10 more in alleged religious conversion network linked to Chhangur Baba
Chhangur Baba | X
Uttar Pradesh police have arrested 10 individuals across six states under Mission Asmita, their ongoing campaign against alleged illegal religious conversion networks. The arrests come as part of a broader crackdown on what authorities describe as organised conversion activities linked to international funding.
The operation began in March when two sisters, aged 33 and 18, went missing from Agra. Their family filed a missing persons report, which initially fell under the jurisdiction of Sadar Bazar Police Station before being transferred to the Cyber Police Station. The case was registered under sections 87, 111(3), and 111(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with sections 3/5 of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act 2021.
During the investigation, police discovered connections to individuals across multiple states who were allegedly involved in what they term ‘radicalisation and love jihad’ activities, reportedly funded from Canada and the United States.
This latest operation builds upon earlier arrests made by UP's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), including those of Mohd. Umar Gautam (son of Dhanraj Singh Gautam), Mufti Jahangir Alam Qazmi (son of Tahir Akhtar) and Chhangur Baba (alias Jamaluddin), whose network was recently exposed by UP’s Special Task Force (STF) and the ATS.
Under the leadership of Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, authorities deployed 11 teams across multiple states and arrested the following individuals: Ayesha (formerly S.B. Krishna) from Goa; Ali Hasan (formerly Shekhar Roy) and Osama from Kolkata; Rehman Qureshi from Agra; Abbu Talib from Khalapar in Muzaffarnagar; Abur Rehman from Dehradun; Mohammad Ali, Junaid Qureshi and Mohammad Ali from Jaipur; and Mustafa (formerly Manoj) from Delhi.
According to preliminary investigations, police claim the network operated through various roles including fund reception and channelling, providing safe houses, legal advice, new phones and SIM cards, and facilitating conversions. Authorities allege the group used what they describe as ‘love jihad’ tactics to target young women across different states.
Police officials state they have found evidence suggesting connections to the Popular Front of India (PFI), Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), and alleged terrorist organisations in Pakistan. They describe the operational methods as similar to those attributed to ISIS.
The operation involved coordination between the Agra Police, the STF and ATS, and police forces from other states, with potential involvement of central agencies as needed. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the alleged network’s structure and international connections.
India