Pratapgarh/Ballia,

23 Feb (HS): An

alleged forced conversion case unfolds in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh, including

arrests. A complaint has been filed in Jethwara, Uttar Pradesh, alleging forced

religious conversion and other offenses. Four people are accused of imprisoning

for last decade and abusing Santosh Shukla, forcefully converting him, and

changing his identification. Police are still looking for more suspects, but

they have made one arrest.

An

official stated on Monday that police had filed a complaint against four

persons for suspected forced religious conversion and other offenses at the

Jethwara police station. One of them was arrested.Additional Superintendent of

Police (West) Vrajanandan Rai said the action was taken in response to a

complaint filed by Santosh Shukla, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Sagar. Shukla

said in his complaint that Badrulzama, Kallu, Naim, and Nizam, all of whom

lived in Kutiliya village, had imprisoned him for the last decade. He said they

forced him to do housework and other tasks, attacked him when he attempted to

flee, and threatened to murder him. Shukla further claimed that his religion

was changed without his agreement, and his name was changed to Sher Ali Khan.

He

further stated that a fraudulent Aadhaar card was made under the new identity. According

to the complaint, when Shukla attempted to flee on February 20, the accused and

five to six unnamed companions apprehended him, brought him back, and attacked

him. Based on the allegation, police filed a case under the appropriate

provisions against the four named accused and unnamed individuals. Badrulzama has

been apprehended, and attempts are on to catch the remaining offenders, the

additional SP stated.

Meanwhile,

a pastor was detained in Ballia district on Monday in the Sikandarpur region

for allegedly inciting religious conversion through promises of money and jobs

while also hurting religious sensibilities, according to an official. On Sunday

night, police in Sikandarpur town filed a case against Jose Thomas, 47, a

resident of Patna's New Pataliputra Colony, under the relevant sections of the

BNS and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act,

in response to a complaint from Gautam Gaur of Jalpa Chowk. According to the

complaint, Thomas was discovered in a residence in Ward No. 5 here, reportedly

addressing 15-20 women and children, promoting conversion to Christianity, and

making offensive statements about Hindu deities while offering inducements,

police said.Police nabbed the offenders on Monday morning, according to

Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh.

He

said police had seized 124 religious books, a music system, three microphones,

and other items from his possession. According to the police, Thomas, who is

originally from Patna, was in Ballia for conversion reasons while staying in

Karikom, Kaddithara, Kerala.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi