In a shocking case of Islamist religious conversion from Dhampur, Uttar Pradesh, a Hindu youth named Mukul was coerced into religious conversion under the pretence of getting him married to his Muslim girlfriend. As per Jagran, the girl and her family allegedly brainwashed him with promises of marriage, leading to his forced conversion to Islam with the help of a local Maulana. Following the conversion, Mukul was renamed Mahir Ansari and married the girl in a madrasa. The case came to light after Mukul’s father filed a police complaint, prompting authorities to take swift action.
The police have arrested the girl, her parents, the Maulana who conducted the conversion, and the Mufti of the local mosque. Mukul himself has not yet appeared before the authorities. The incident occurred in Purana Dhampur, where Mukul, a 24-year-old who worked at a medical store, had been in a relationship with a 21-year-old Islamic woman. The girl’s family, along with religious figures from the local madrasa and mosque, reportedly manipulated him into accepting conversion as a prerequisite for marriage.
Forced conversion and secret nikah in Madrasa
Mukul’s father stated that his son was systematically brainwashed and pressured into renouncing his faith. The conversion and subsequent nikah were conducted at the Aftab-e-Uloom madrasa near a graveyard in Dhampur. When news of the conversion spread, the father and villagers rushed to the madrasa and confronted those responsible. A heated altercation ensued, prompting police intervention.
Following the father’s complaint, authorities registered a case under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act. The five accused, including the girl’s parents, Maulana Qari Irshad from Nai Sarai madrasa, and Mufti Gufran from Nai Sarai masjid, have been booked and sent to jail. However, Mukul remains absent, raising concerns about his safety and well-being.
Reports suggest that Mukul had initially sought to marry his girlfriend, but her family imposed a conversion condition. The girl’s parents introduced him to the local Maulana and mosque Mufti, who played a key role in altering his beliefs. Using religious persuasion and emotional manipulation, they convinced him to abandon his identity, ultimately leading to his conversion and subsequent marriage.
This case has reignited concerns over forced conversions and the tactics used to target Hindu youth in interfaith relationships. The police are continuing their investigation, and authorities have assured strict legal action against those responsible for this coercion.
Under Yogi Adityanath’s leadership, the Uttar Pradesh government has enforced strict anti-conversion laws to curb forced religious conversions. Despite this, isolated cases of religious manipulation and coercion under the guise of marriage continue to surface. Over the past few years, numerous arrests have been made, primarily involving individuals from the Islamic community attempting to convert Hindus through deceptive tactics. The state’s firm stance on illegal conversions has led to increased vigilance and legal action against those violating the law.
