Six persons have been booked for alleged forced religious conversions in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district.
The six accused persons allegedly lured some people to convert to Christianity, according to police.
Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rahul Bhati said on Sunday the action was taken after Uttar Pradesh Police got information that religious conversion was going on at the Vanshi Nagar locality in Bareilly where 60-70 people were present.
Later, an FIR was lodged against six persons under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion Act, 2021, said Bhati.
Those named in the FIR lodged by activist Himanshu Patel included Bhagwan Das, Prena Singh, Sunita, Sita, Pawan Kumar, and Janki Prasad.
Patel alleged that religious conversion by Christian missionaries was allegedly being done at the residence of Bhagwan Das by luring, misleading, and also giving life threat to the people to accept their religion. He also alleged in the FIR that indecent comments were made against Hindu gods and goddesses in the gathering.
However, Bhagwan Das said prayers were held in his fields for the past 22 years and allegations of religious conversion was made against him earlier too.
The allegations against him and others were found incorrect in the police probe, claimed Das, adding that no religious conversion was done at his place.
Das has given an application to lodge an FIR against Patel and others alleging that they entered his place, misbehaved with him and give life threats.
Further probe is on, said police.
The case of alleged forced religious conversion in Bareilly comes weeks nine persons were similarly booked in Meerut.
In Meerut, the complaint was filed by a few residents of Mangatapuram Colony who alleged that during the early phase of Covid-19 pandemic, some people provided food and financial assistance to the poor living in the area and they later forced these people to convert to Christianity.
"Not only this, pictures of Hindu Gods and Goddesses are also being thrown out by the accused from the houses of the people of Mangatapuram Colony. On protesting or complaining about the incident to anyone, the accused come home with knives and sticks and threaten to kill," according to the complaint in Meerut.
(With PTI inputs)
