This story is from November 18, 2021

Gujarat: Four arrested for religious conversions in Bharuch

Four of the nine persons accused for forcible religious conversion in villages of Bharuch district were arrested late on Tuesday night.
Gujarat: Four arrested for religious conversions in Bharuch
Representative image
SURAT: Four of the nine persons accused for forcible religious conversion in villages of Bharuch district were arrested late on Tuesday night.
A complaint against the nine persons was lodged after a man who was converted with the lure of a good job filed a complaint with Amod police station. Preliminary investigation had revealed that around 100 people from some 35 families were converted with inducement of money.
Investigation of the case was handed over to deputy superintendent of police MP Bhojani.
Police arrested Abdul Aziz Patel alias Ajit Chaganbhai Vasava, Yusuf Jivanbhai Patel alias Mahendra Jivanbhai Vasava, Ayub Barkatbhai Patel alias Raman Barkatbhai Vasava and Ibrahim Punabhai Patel alias Jitu Punabhai Vasava, all natives of Kankaria village of Bharuch.
Their interrogation revealed that they received money from other accused persons which they used in luring other villagers for conversion. Children of converted families also started their study in nearby Darul Uloom. Families were also taken to mass prayer on Friday, police officials said.
Two accused - Salauddin Sheikh and Umar Gautam - against whom Vadodara special operation group (SOG) had registered case on August 24 will also be questioned if needed to ascertain if they were involved in Bharuch religious conversion racket. Gautam and Shaikh are currently lodged in the Vadodara jail.
Police sources said the racket was operated in a very organised way and the accused had pre-planned sending money and facilities required to lure people for conversion. Police is also investigating the route through which funds were sent from abroad. Many people who converted are yet not ready to give a police statement. Arrested persons are those who are directly connected with people and played the main role in luring villagers.
Vadodara SOG had informed Bharuch counterparts after they had registered a case against Salauddin, a managing trustee of Aafmi Charitable Trust and Mohammad Umar Gautam on August 24. Abdullah Fefdawala, a native of Nabipur village in Bharuch and resident of London in the UK, had allegedly sent Rs 80 crore to Salauddin via FCRA and hawala. Sheikh used this money to finance conversion, building a mosque in the target area and help the accused nabbed during a demonstration against CAA and NRC in Delhi get bail.
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