Here’s a case-by-case account of the FIRs:
Case No. 1
Location: Bareilly
Date: November 29, 2020
The FIR was presented at the Deorania Police Station in the Bareilly district, charged with allegedly trying to coerce a 20-year-old girl to convert. The police case was made on the complaint of Tikaram Rathore, the girl’s father and a resident of Sharifnagar village.
Rathore in his FIR had alleged that 22-year-old Uwaish Ahmad had developed a friendship with his daughter while they were studying and wanted to coerce, convince and entice her to convert. The defendant was arrested on December 3.
Case No. 2
Location: Muzaffarnagar
Date: November 30, 2020
The FIR reported to the Mansoorpur Police Station, Muzaffarnagar District, on November 30. Two Muslim men, Suleman and Nadeem, were arrested for allegedly trying to force a married Hindu woman to convert. They were registered under the new law, as well as for criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. Both were arrested on December 6.
Case No. 3
Place: Mau
Date: December 3, 2020
The FIR reported to the Chiraiyakot Police Station in Mau District on December 3. Fourteen people have been registered under the new law. Shabab Khan alias Rahul (38) and 13 of his acquaintances were also arrested for kidnapping.
Police said Khan, who is married, and his associates allegedly abducted a 27-year-old woman on the eve of her wedding on Nov. 30 with the intention of changing her religion. There are no arrests yet.
Case No. 4
Place: Sitapur
Date: December 4, 2020
The FIR was housed at the Tambor Police Station in the Sitapur district. Zubrail, a 22-year-old young man, along with five of his relatives and two locals were booked for allegedly kidnapping a 19-year-old girl and converting her. They were reserved under the new anti-conversion law and by kidnapping.
The FIR named Zubrail, his brothers Israel and Mainuddin, mother Janatun, Aunt Afsarjahan and the locals Rafique, Shamshad and Usman as defendants. All except Zubrail were arrested on December 5. Zubrail continues to flee, along with the girl.
Case No. 5
Location: Bijnor
Date: December 7, 2020
The FIR was housed at the Kotwali Police Station in the Bijnor district. A 22-year-old worker, Afzal, was booked for allegedly kidnapping a girl from her home. Apart from the new law, Afzal has been charged with kidnapping. He was arrested on December 13.
Case No. 6
Location: Hardoi
Date: December 11, 2020
The FIR was housed at the Shahabad Police Station in Hardoi District on December 11. In her FIR, a 19-year-old woman alleged that she was raped on the pretext of marriage and also pressured to convert by one Mohammed Azad. He also claimed that Azad was selling it in Delhi. Azad was booked for violation, UP Illegal Conversion of Religion Prohibition Act, 2020 and human trafficking. He was arrested on December 16.
Case No. 7
Place: Moradabad
Date: December 11, 2020
The FIR stayed at the Kanth Police Station in the Moradabad district. Two brothers, Rashid Ali (22) and Saleem Ali (25), were searched and arrested under the new law.
The girl’s mother had alleged that Rashid Ali, a Moradabad resident, was trying to convert her daughter, Pinki, and marry her.
Case No. 8
Location: Bijnor
Date: December 16, 2020
The FIR reported to the Dhampur Police Station in the Bijnor district on 16 December. Shaqib, 21, alias Sonu, a resident of the Dhampur area, was also charged with kidnapping, kidnapping or inducing a woman into marriage and in accordance with the provisions of the Protection of Children from the crimes of sexual assault and scheduled caste and tribe acts (atrocity prevention).
The defendant had allegedly eloped with a minor on December 12. He was arrested the same day and registered under the new law four days later.
What is the Uttar Pradesh Ordinance Banning Illegal Conversion of Religion, 2020?
The UP governor on November 28 had given his consent to the Uttar Pradesh Illegal Conversion of Religion Prohibition Ordinance, 2020, against forced or fraudulent religious conversions.
The law provides for prison terms of up to 10 years and a maximum fine of Rs 50,000 in different categories.
According to the Uttar Pradesh Illegal Conversion of Religion Ban Ordinance 2020, which deals with different categories of offenses, a marriage will be declared “null and void” if the conversion of a woman is solely for that purpose, and Those who wish to change their religion after marriage must apply to the district judge.
The law was enacted four days after Yogi Adityanath’s government in the state passed draft legislation that also curbs religious conversions just for the sake of marriage.
With PTI inputs
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