ATS gets 7-day remand of conversion accused both Maulanas
Lucknow Siyasat.net
A day after the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) arrested two persons for allegedly converting more than a thousand people to Islam, the state government on Tuesday directed the investigating agency and the police to trace other people involved in such activities and invoke the stringent provisions of National Security Act (NSA) and Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act against them.
The government also directed the police to probe the financial transactions of the accused and confiscate their properties.
The UP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), on Tuesday, got 7-day remand of the two accused arrested a day before on charges of running a mass conversion racket.
It is believed that the number of people who converted their religion to Islam through the organisation of the arrested accused can rise significantly.
Both were produced in ACJM court on Tuesday and Justice Satyaveer Singh granted ATS seven-day remand of the accused.
The ATS will initiate further investigations and gather more evidences regarding their crime.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has expressed concerns over mass conversions and instructed to impose NSA on the accused.
The investigations can also be handed over to National Investigative Agency (NIA), which can go deeper into the roots of their operations and examine their connections in other states.
Earlier, on Monday, UP ATS had arrested Mohammad Umar Gautam and Jahangeer Alam Kazmi from Jamianagar area of New Delhi on charges of forcing religious conversions on mass scale, with alleged funding from Pakistan’s ISI.
But idc’s(Indian Dawa’h centre) website countering the police claimssays that “it receives donation from Indian bank accounts only” into the Fatima charitable foundation’s account no 0711131345, Kotak Mahindra bank. The foundation is registered as non-fcra account.
The matter came into light during investigation after two Muslim youth were arrested from Dasna temple with objectionable material on June 3.
Investigations also revealed large scale funding for the mass conversion racket, and records of more than 1,000 people who were converted to Islam on the pretext of jobs, marriage and other interests were recovered from the accused.
Specially-abled children were their soft and easy targets and records about conversion of such children in large numbers were found.
Also, both arrested accused had target of more than 250 conversions annually and they used to organise an annual conference where new recruits and alumni were gathered to discuss further strategies.
Meanwhile, Former Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission and editor of Milli Gazatte, Zafarul Islam Khan, said Umar Gautam converted to Islam early when he found that while people close to him deserted him in his ailment, Muslim friends stood with him. He is accused of converting people to Islam and conversion is not a crime. It is allowed, he added.
“Under Art. 25 of our Constitution. No question of forceful conversion by him. He is a nice person, a good samaritan. I have known him for close to 3 decades. ATS claims about his “ISI links” are bogus, will fall by the wayside. Look at hundreds of acquittals in recent decades” the former Chairman of Delhi Minorities Commission said.
Aam Aadmi Party leader, Amantullah Khan taking it to Twitter, said that by arresting Umar Gautam and his associate, “BJP government is not failing to commit atrocities on the minorities and Dalits of the country. The BJP has attacked our Constitutional rights. Article 25 and 21 gives us the right to convert to any religion.”
The AAP leader further added that in view of the upcoming assembly elections in UP, the BJP wants to save its sinking boat by adopting the policy of “Sam-Daan, Dand Bhed” in an unconstitutional way. “The BJP government should stop misusing the law and the constitution and release those arrested unconstitutionally,” he added.
(www.siyasat.net is Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India based Website, powered by Gujarat siyasat, a Fortnightly)
An Appeal For The Sake Of Upright & Fearless Brand Of Journalism
To sustain and improve our coverage. Gujarat siyasat- a vernacular Fortnightly and English٫ Hindi Website www.siyasat.net
Your little but timely support is needed۔
Bank details، GUJARAT SIYASAT, Current Account 204720110000318, ifsc code BKID0002047 BANK OF INDIA , VASNA BRANCH, AHMEDABAD GUJARAT INDIA
Also on Phone pay, Paytm,Google pay +91 9925531111
We hope you help and see siyasat.net grow. And rejoice that your contribution has made it possible.
सत्य को ज़िंदा रखने की इस मुहिम में आपका सहयोग बेहद ज़रूरी है। आपसे मिली सहयोग राशि हमारे लिए संजीवनी का कार्य करेगी और हमे इस मार्ग पर निरंतर चलने के लिए प्रेरित करेगी। याद रखिये ! सत्य विचलित हो सकता है पराजित नहीं।
Regards,
Abdulhafiz Lakhani
Ahmedabad GUJARAT,India
