A Muslim man who claimed that the Uttar Pradesh police treated his son’s “unnatural death” as suicide has embraced to Hinduism along with 12 of his family members. Dissatisfied with the police probe, the family now hopes that after the religion change the police might properly investigate his son’s murder. The thirteen members converted to Hinduism with the support of a rightwing group — Yuva Hindu Vahini (Bharat).
According to the NDTV, the conversion ceremony took place on Tuesday, after Akhtar, a resident of Badarkha village in Uttar Pradesh, along with his family members submitted an affidavit to the area sub-divisional magistrate to inform them about their voluntary change of religion, said the officials. According to the Yuva Hindu Vahini (Bharat) state chief Shaukendra Khokar, the family changed their religion with all the necessary religious rituals, including a ‘havan’.
Family alleges foul play
The Baghpat District Magistrate, Rishirendra Kumar while confirming the incident said that the family converted into Hinduism as they were not satisfied with the police probe into their son’s death that had happened a few months ago. While speaking to The Indian Express, Khokar said that Akhtar’s son, Gulhasan had died and his body was found hanging. His upset father claims that his son’s body was hung to make it appear a suicide, however, it was not a suicide but a murder.
He also claimed that Akhtar’s family initially had approached their own community members for help, but they were also “not very forthcoming and did not help them much. He added that despite family’s several pleadings to the police that his son was murdered, the police concluded it to be the case of suicide.
Chanted “Jai Shri Ram”
During the ceremony, the family was wearing saffron robes around their shoulder and chanted “Jai Shri Ram”, said Khokar. A ‘havan’ and Hanuman Chalisa recitation also happened. Later on, the 13 people even got their name changed, he added.
When asked that how changing religion would help them, Gulhasan’s elder brother, Dilshad said, “We converted because our community did not support us. By embracing Hinduism we are expecting justice from our new community.”
Superintendent Of Police, Shailesh Kumar Pandey said that they have received the information that some members of a Muslim community have changed their religion. He said that they would be looking into the matter.
The incident
On July 22, Gulhasan’s body was found hanging from the roof of his cloth store. The family claims that the rival businessmen killed him in the village. The family said that they had found injury marks on his body. Reportedly no FIR was lodged initially, forcing the family to move to the court seeking an FIR into the death. On court’s direction, a case was lodged against four people of the village.
According to the Kotwali police station house officer (SHO), Dinesh Kumar an FIR was registered on August 28, under Cour’s direction against four residents of Navada village, however, no arrests have been made so far. “The autopsy cleared it as suicide. After the FIR was lodged, we sent the autopsy report to medico-legal experts in Lucknow for their opinion. After obtaining that, we will proceed further,” he added.
“CM Yogi is a source of inspiration”
According to the Muslim family, after being ostracised by their community they decided to convert and approached Yuva Hindu Vahini-Bharat a month ago. They said that they would keep fighting for justice.
The national president of the Yuva Hindu Vahini-Bharat, Sivraj Singh Chauhan said that their outfit was formed in February in Lucknow. He claims that Chief Minister Yogi Aditynath is their “prerna stotra (source of inspiration)”.
“We are taking out programmes in various states for the welfare of our Hindu brothers. We also help those who want a ghar wapsi and this was why our activists in Baghpat have helped a Muslim family in conversion,” he said.
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