The Uttar Pradesh police have busted a conversion racket that was being operated through a gaming app for the past few years.
A member of a mosque committee in Sanjay Nagar in Ghaziabad has been arrested for his alleged role in the religious conversion of at least four youths.
Police have identified him as Abdul Rehman, who is originally from Ballia. The mosque committee has told the cops that Rehman had quit the panel a few months ago, but is yet to submit any proof of the claim.
On May 30, the Imam of a mosque and Thane resident, Khan Shahnawaz a.k.a. Baddo, was booked after an investigation was initiated into the conversion racket.
The probe began after the father of a minor boy from Faridabad complained to police that his son had come in contact with a person via a gaming app and was influenced by him to visit the mosque in Sanjay Nagar.
The father had recently learnt that his son was lying about going to the gym and was visiting the mosque instead for prayers.
Nipurn Aggarwal, DCP (city), said that they had evidence to prove Rehman tried to convert four youths - two from Ghaziabad, one from Faridabad and another from Chandigarh.
"We have learnt that he was talking to the four youths since 2021 and was sending them videos about religion," the officer said.
Abhishek Srivastava, ACP (Kavi Nagar), said the Faridabad boy had come in contact with the three other youths and Rehman through a gaming app. They had shared their phone numbers with Rehman, who allegedly started preaching to them about Islam. Two of the youths were in contact with Baddo too.
"We have questioned the boy from Faridabad and learnt that he and the others were in contact with Rehman through a gaming app since 2021. His mother witnessed a change in his behaviour and tried to counsel him, but to no avail," the ACP said.
One of the youths from Ghaziabad, police said, had met Baddo after losing his parents during the second wave of Covid in 2021.
"After his parents died, he himself tested positive. The Imam reached out to him and made him believe that his prayers had cured him of the virus. The youth - a minor then - started watching some YouTube videos on Islam and was drawn to the sermons. He started visiting the mosque often. His sister once saw him offering namaz and informed the parents. The youth was then counselled," Srivastava said.
It was at the Sanjay Nagar Mosque that the boy met another youth from the NCR city. He, too, was persuaded to convert his religion, the police said.
Srivastava said the mosque committee had told them Rehman was not a member of the board anymore. "They do not have any proof. They, however, removed Rehman from the mosque committee's WhatsApp group on June 2 after the FIR was lodged in the conversion row," he added.
States should boost biz reforms to generate higher incomes for citizens: Eco Survey
States should focus on business reforms on a priority basis to achieve buoyancies in some industrial or service sectors, the Economic Survey 2024-25 said on Friday.
NCERT team seizes pirated textbooks in Agartala
Officials of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), along with Tripura Police, seized pirated NCERT books that were being sold to students in bookshops in Agartala, officials said on Friday.
Mamta Kulkarni's past haunts her, leads to expulsion from Kinnar Akhada
Actress Mamta Kulkarni, who ruled the 90s, has been expelled from the Kinnar Akhada. The designation of Mahamandaleshwar, which was given to the actress, has been revoked. The reason behind the same has been revealed to the actress’ past link to cinema, and her alleged criminal past.
Eco Survey suggests enhanced deregulation for MSMEs to boost growth
Faster economic growth is only possible if the Union and state governments continue to implement reforms that allow small and medium enterprises to operate efficiently and compete cost-effectively, said the Economic Survey 2024 on Friday.
Lifestyle choices, workplace culture key for mental well-being, productivity: Eco Survey
Lifestyle choices and workplace culture are critical for the mental well-being and thus, the productivity of the people in India, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25 on Friday.
Eco Survey: Demographic advantage, responsible approach position India to benefit from AI
With AI research and development currently concentrated in the hands of a few, very large companies that control the resources to erect high entry barriers, AI adoption in place of humans presents the risk of concentrating the benefits of automation.
Prez Murmu faces ‘repeated’ insults from Congress: Sonia Gandhi’s comments fuel backlash
The BJP was quick to condemn the remarks, calling them “derogatory” and accusing the Congress of disrespecting the President. BJP leaders said that Congress’s “feudal mindset” cannot accept that a tribal woman like Droupadi Murmu achieved the position of President of India.
India's farm sector has clocked robust growth on the back of govt schemes: Economic Survey
The agriculture sector in India has shown robust growth in recent years, averaging 5 per cent annually from FY17 to FY23, demonstrating resilience despite challenges, according to the Economic Survey 2024-25.