About 20 members of the 'Nat' community adopted the Hindu religion in UP's Faizabad district.

Though there were speculations that it was a forced conversion, the members of the community justified their decision by providing facts. These people belong to the Makahari village of the neighbouring Ambedkarnagar district and according to them they were having some social issues.

"About 25 years ago, our elders converted to Islam (from Hinduism) due to unavoidable circumstances. We were facing a lot of problems from both the groups and so we decided to turn back", Surendra Kumar, the head of the group said.

'NOT AT ALL A FORCED CONVERSION'

"I was in touch with Kailash Chandra Srivastava (of the RSS) and he helped us," he added.

"This is not at all a forced conversion. There are about 50 more waiting and we want to assure them of all kind of assistance and support in living a free and fear-free life", Srivastava said.

A proper Janeu and Mundan ceremony was performed at the Arya Samaj Temple near the Kotwali police station after which they were given new names, he added.

Police reached the spot, but were turned down.

ALSO READ | Kidnapping, forced marriage: Pakistan's Hindu women hope for protection in new law

ALSO READ | From the magazine: The coming of a Hindu state

ALSO READ | American evangelist's Bengaluru event cancelled after fringe groups accuse her of flouting visa rules, trying to convert

ALSO WATCH | American evangelist's Bengaluru event cancelled after fringe groups accuse her of flouting visa rules, trying to convert