UP Minority Commission requests police to probe Agra conversions

The Uttar Pradesh Minority Commission on Thursday requested the police to investigate the alleged forceful conversion by Hindu groups of Muslim families in Agra, adding that it was treating the matter very seriously.

"When the media brought forth the issue of conversion of religion in Agra, then acting on the orders of the president of the commission, we informed the District Magistrate (DM) and the senior superintendant of police (SSP) of the matter via a letter. We requested that they investigate the matter thoroughly within three days and the commission shall be travelling to Agra at the earliest," UP Minority Commission member Sohail Ayub told ANI.

"The commission has taken the issue very seriously because the forced conversion of an individual is against the law. If what the media is showcased is true, that the people who were converted, did so for material gain, then it is a very serious matter," he added.

Earlier in the day, the opposition in the Lok Sabha demanded an explanation from the BJP-led government at the Centre over the conversions organized in Agra reportedly by groups linked to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Around 200 people were reportedly converted to Hinduism in a ceremony in Agra by groups linked to the BJP's ideological mentor RSS.

Bajrang Dal and Dharam Jagran Manch, the groups that performed the mass conversions, reportedly claimed that the families were originally Hindus and converted to Islam around 30 years ago.