‘Effective action in UP against forced religious conversion’ - Hindustan Times
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‘Effective action in UP against forced religious conversion’

May 11, 2023 12:07 AM IST

A total of 427 conversion-related cases reported in Uttar Pradesh between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2023. More than 833 arrests have been made so far

LUCKNOW The issue of religious conversion is back into focus. A total of 427 conversion-related cases were reported in Uttar Pradesh between January 1, 2021 and April 30, 2023, and more than 833 arrests had been made so far.

A maximum of 121 cases came to light in Prayagraj zone while 34 cases were from Lucknow, 28 from Bareilly, 27 from Agra, and 16 each from Gorakhpur and Varanasi zones. (Pic for representation)
A maximum of 121 cases came to light in Prayagraj zone while 34 cases were from Lucknow, 28 from Bareilly, 27 from Agra, and 16 each from Gorakhpur and Varanasi zones. (Pic for representation)

The Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance was introduced by the Yogi Adityanath government on November 27, 2020. “Since then, the government has set an example by taking severe measures against those who are accused of practicing love jihad and religious conversion,” stated a media handout issued by the government.

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“In 185 cases, the victims even confessed before the court that they were forcibly converted. Simultaneously, 65 cases of conversion of minors have been registered so far,” according to the handout.

In total, UP registered 427 cases of religious conversion. The Bareilly zone reported a maximum of 86 cases while 59 cases were registered in Gorakhpur, 53 in Lucknow, 47 in Meerut, 46 in Prayagraj, and 39 in Varanasi, it stated.

In terms of commissionerate, 20 cases were registered in Lucknow, 19 in Kanpur, 13 in Prayagraj, 10 in Noida and 299 people were named in FIRs registered in Prayagraj, 235 in Bareilly, 153 in Lucknow zone, 141 in Meerut, 135 in Varanasi, and 128 in Gorakhpur.

A maximum of 121 cases came to light in Prayagraj zone while 34 cases were from Lucknow, 28 from Bareilly, 27 from Agra, and 16 each from Gorakhpur and Varanasi zones.

Prayagraj zone topped the list with 163 arrests. Besides, 137 arrests were made in Bareilly, 124 in Lucknow, 101 in Varanasi, 81 in Gorakhpur, 65 in Meerut, 37 in the Agra zone and 21 in Kanpur.

As many as 65 victims of conversion were below 18 years. So far, 65 cases of conversion of minors had been registered, including 12 cases related to minors registered in the Meerut zone, 10 in Gorakhpur, nine in Bareilly, five in Agra, four cases each in Lucknow and Prayagraj, and two in Varanasi.

According to the Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020, the figures from January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2023, reveal that 185 victims confessed before the court that they were forcibly converted. As many as 47 victims in Bareilly, 32 in Meerut, 13 in Prayagraj, 12 in Gorakhpur, 11 in Agra, 10 in Lucknow, and 10 in Varanasi zone had confessed the same.

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