'Overheard plans to turn India into Islamic nation': 2 women accuse Chhangur Baba syndicate of sex abuse, forced conversion; warn of larger plot

LUCKNOW: Two women from Bengaluru and UP's Auraiya have come forward with testimonies, alleging they were trapped, exploited, and forcibly converted to Islam as part of a religious conversion syndicate allegedly run by Jamaluddin alias Chhangur Baba.Both women, in their mid-20s, were rescued with help from Vishwa Hindu Raksha Parishad national president Gopal Rai. Rai has claimed getting threats. Speaking at a press conference in Lucknow on Monday, the women accused Baba's network of using fake Hindu identities, emotional manipulation, sexual abuse, and blackmail to coerce Hindu women into conversion and marriage.The Bengaluru-based victim, a beautician, said she was contacted on Instagram by a man posing as "Raju Rathore" (real name Faisal), who lured her to Dubai on the pretext of a job. There, she was allegedly gang-raped, filmed, and blackmailed. She was introduced to Chhangur Baba via video call and forced to convert. After returning to India, she was taken to Saharanpur, where she was allegedly assaulted again.The Auraiya victim said her mother sought help from a man named "Rudra" (real name Meraj) to treat her alcoholic father. Rudra introduced them to Chhangur Baba. The woman was forcibly married in a mosque after a video-call conversion and was held captive for three months. She also alleged that she overheard conversations about plans to make India an Islamic nation. Despite approaching the police in Auraiya, no FIR was registered, she claimed.ATS officials said they will verify the women's statements and incorporate the allegations into their ongoing probe into Baba's activities.Meanwhile, the Balrampur district administration on Monday said they will recover Rs 8.55 lakh from Baba and his aides as compensation for the cost of demolishing illegal constructions on govt land in Madhpur village near Utraula. After failing to vacate the land despite a formal notice, the administration conducted a three-day demolition drive using eight bulldozers. Recovery notices are now being issued. "If the amount is not deposited, legal action will be taken," DM Pawan Agarwal said.