How Did Chhangur Baba Lure Women into Forced Conversions?

Bengaluru, July 28 (NationPress) The apprehension of Maulana Jalaluddin, known as Chhangur Baba, has unveiled the extensive nature of a religious conversion racket. The Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorist Squad took him into custody after discovering his involvement in a large-scale conversion scheme, which reportedly netted him crores of rupees.

Initial inquiries indicated that Chhangur Baba and his accomplices were engaged in illegal conversion operations exclusively in Uttar Pradesh. However, further investigation revealed that their activities extended into Uttarakhand as well.

The investigation uncovered a vast network where women were ensnared and subsequently converted. Social media platforms like Instagram were utilized to disseminate religious content aimed at brainwashing these women.

These revelations surfaced after the arrests of Abdul Rehman from Dehradun and Abu Taleb from Muzaffarnagar, who allegedly ensnared two women through social media posts.

During interrogations, it was disclosed that they initially established casual connections with young women, gradually exposing them to religious material, which facilitated the propaganda and subsequent brainwashing.

Predominantly, the accused targeted vulnerable women facing financial hardships or familial issues, offering them emotional support and promises of financial aid, conditional upon their conversion.

One of the suspects, Abdul Rehman, is reported to have been part of this racket for a significant duration, residing in Dehradun for almost a decade under the alias Rupendra Yadav.

The investigation also revealed that a love jihad unit was being led by one Rashid, a resident of Balrampur in Uttar Pradesh. He was responsible for overseeing operations that involved identifying and converting vulnerable women.

The police learned that the specific targets were individuals from Scheduled Castes, vulnerable Hindu women and girls, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Some victims, who had health concerns, were even promised that their ailments would vanish upon conversion.

Since the exposure of this racket, an increasing number of women have approached the police seeking justice.

Earlier this month, a man from Uttar Pradesh accused Chhangur Baba of manipulating him. He reported threats that his two daughters would be harmed if he refused to convert. The complainant, Jyotirgmay Rai (35), stated that he married a woman named Ishita through an Arya Samaj ceremony, later discovering her real name was Afreen.

He mentioned that following the marriage of their second daughter, he faced pressure to convert.

This issue extends beyond India, as the Enforcement Directorate is investigating a significant money trail. The case, registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), indicates that this syndicate has received approximately Rs 106 crore in funds, primarily from the Middle East.

This operation has reportedly been active for nearly 15 years and may have facilitated the conversion of hundreds of individuals, according to police suspicions.

The UP ATS uncovered that the syndicate run by Chhangur Baba and his associate Neetu alias Nasreen managed 40 different bank accounts, through which foreign funds were deposited.

The UP administration has commenced demolishing properties acquired illegally by this syndicate, funded by foreign money.