UP DGP Prashant Kumar Praises Court’s Decision on Illegal Religious Conversion Case
The NIA/ATS Special Court in Uttar Pradesh has convicted 16 individuals involved in illegal religious conversion. DGP Prashant Kumar lauded the decision, stating it sends a strong message against such activities.
Sentences Announced
The court sentenced 12 people, including Maulana Kalim Siddiqui, to life imprisonment. Four others, Rahul Bola, Mannu Yadav, Kunal Ashok Chaudhary, and Salim, received 10-year sentences along with fines.
Details of the Case
Maulana Kalim Siddiqui was arrested in September 2021 for running a nationwide illegal religious conversion syndicate. The group targeted poor and disabled individuals, luring them with money. Their agents operated in multiple states, including Delhi, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Punjab.
The case was exposed when one of the syndicate members was caught in Ghaziabad. Upon interrogation, the illegal activities were revealed, leading to the involvement of the Uttar Pradesh Police and the NIA.
Special Judge Vivekanand Sharan Tripathi pronounced the sentences. The mastermind, Maulana Umar Gautam Qazi, along with Jahangir Alam Qazmi and Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, received life sentences. A total of 17 people were charged, with the High Court giving a decision against one individual.
Doubts Revealed
UP DGP -: UP DGP stands for Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police. He is the top police officer in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Prashant Kumar -: Prashant Kumar is the name of the current Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh.
NIA/ATS Special Court -: NIA stands for National Investigation Agency, and ATS stands for Anti-Terrorism Squad. These are special agencies in India that deal with serious crimes like terrorism. The Special Court is a special type of court that handles cases investigated by these agencies.
Illegal Religious Conversion -: Illegal religious conversion means changing someone’s religion by using unfair means like force, fraud, or allurement, which is against the law.
Convicted -: Convicted means that the court has found someone guilty of a crime after a trial.
Life Imprisonment -: Life imprisonment means that the person has to stay in jail for the rest of their life.
Maulana Kalim Siddiqui -: Maulana Kalim Siddiqui is a religious leader who was found guilty in this case and sentenced to life imprisonment.
Syndicate -: A syndicate is a group of people who work together for a common purpose, often in secret and sometimes for illegal activities.
Maulana Umar Gautam Qazi -: Maulana Umar Gautam Qazi is another religious leader who was considered the mastermind behind the illegal religious conversion activities and was given a life sentence.
