SHAMLI: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Shamli district have arrested a woman and her father and booked nine people in connection with the alleged religious conversion of a 30-year-old man, officials said on Sunday.The arrested accused have been identified as Chandni Qureshi and her father, Islam Qureshi. According to the complainant, Chandni worked as Ayush Malik’s physiotherapist and gym trainer before allegedly developing a relationship with him.According to a complaint filed by medicine trader Devraj Malik, his son Ayush Malik (30) was allegedly converted to Islam several years ago under the pretext of marriage. The complainant alleged that Ayush was taken to Delhi, where a nikah was conducted using forged documents.Shamli superintendent of police NP Singh said a case has been registered against nine individuals, including a maulvi, under Sections 308 (extortion), 318 (cheating), 336 (forgery), 338 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc.) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.According to the police, the incident was part of a premeditated scheme in which the victim was allegedly lured into a romantic relationship, pressured to change his religion and later blackmailed for financial gain.In a post on X, Shamli Police said two accused had been arrested from the Kaziwada locality under Kotwali police station limits in connection with the alleged coercion of a young man through emotional entrapment, blackmail and religious conversion for monetary benefits.Police said efforts are underway to trace and arrest the remaining accused named in the FIR.Meanwhile, Hindu activists, including Swami Yashveer Maharaj, have demanded stringent action against those involved and warned of protests against alleged illegal religious conversions.The police said strict action is being taken against individuals involved in unlawful activities, including forced conversions and blackmail, and urged residents to report any suspicious activity to help maintain law and order in the district.(With agency inputs)
