A complaint filed by his family members has alleged that "their son was influenced by a Muslim girl and forced... Read More

AGRA: A 21-year-old Aligarh youth who converted to Islam was arrested on Sunday after his family members and some right-wing organisations created a ruckus outside the Kwarsi police station in the district. He has been arrested under section 151 of the CrPC (arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offences). A complaint filed by his family members has alleged that “their son was influenced by a Muslim girl and forced to convert” even though the youth said that he has embraced the religion of his own free will.

According to police, Ved Prakash , who has now taken the name of Aadil, had left Hinduism around eight months ago while he was employed at a furniture shop in the district’s Nagla Patwari locality. The matter came to light on Saturday evening when he had allegedly expressed his desire to marry a Muslim girl who lives in the same neighbourhood. Aadil is a resident of Baraula Jafrabad area of the district. On Sunday, members of his family along with some right-wing groups lodged a complaint against the girl’s relatives alleging them of “forceful religious conversion”.

Rejecting allegations of his family, Aadil said, “No one forced me to convert. I have embraced Islam and have no regrets about it. What is wrong in that?”

Senior superintendent of police (SSP), Aligarh, Ajay Kumar Sahni said, “The youth has admitted to conversion without any pressure. Following the religion’s tenets, he even underwent circumcision.”

Nemvati Devi, the youth’s mother, said, “Wasim alias Chotu, used to work with my son at the furniture shop. Wasim influenced him to convert and promised to get his sister married to him. When we came to know about the conversion, we rushed to the shop but were stopped by some members of the other community. They also threatened us against filing a complaint.”

Meanwhile, police have arrested another person named Khurram, one of Aadil’s acquaintances, on charges of forceful conversion. In his statement to officers, Khurram said, “I have known Aadil for only a fortnight. We had offered namaz together a couple of times in the past.”

Talking to TOI, Reeta Rajput, general secretary of BJP's Aligarh unit, said, "Strict action should be taken against those who allegedly forced the youth to convert."