Daijiworld Media Network - Bijnor
Bijnor, May 19: A case of alleged religious conversion involving a minor boy has surfaced in Bijnor district, with the family accusing a local youth of taking their son to Kupwara on the pretext of providing employment and later forcing him to convert to Islam.
The incident was reported from Bakharpur village under the City Kotwali area of Bijnor.
According to the family, the minor, identified as Vishal Kumar, was allegedly taken to Kashmir by a youth named Wasim, who had promised to teach him salon work and arrange employment opportunities there.
Family members alleged that after reaching Kashmir, the boy was threatened and pressured into religious conversion. They further claimed that when they tried to contact him, they were allegedly told to “forget the boy”.
The family alleged that Vishal was later renamed Hamza following the purported conversion.
The issue came to light after a video allegedly linked to the boy’s conversion surfaced on social media and went viral, attracting widespread attention online.
Following the circulation of the video, Vishal’s family approached the office of Superintendent of Police Abhishek in Bijnor seeking intervention and demanding the safe return of the minor from Kashmir.
Acting on the complaint, Uttar Pradesh Police registered a case on May 18 under Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and initiated an investigation.
Circle Officer Sangram Singh said the complaint was lodged at Kotwali Nagar Police Station and that the alleged conversion had taken place in Kupwara.
The family stated that they learned about the alleged conversion through social media last week.
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Tuesday also registered an FIR in connection with the alleged conversion case in Kupwara district.
Dharmveer Prajapati said such incidents were repeatedly being used to tarnish the image of the state government. He added that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had directed agencies to investigate the matter strictly and take appropriate action.