UP cops rush to Kashmir to bring back 17-year-old after his ‘conversion’ video surfaces

BIJNOR: A police team from Bijnor left for Kupwara in Jammu and Kashmir to bring back a 17-year-old boy after his family alleged he was forcibly converted to Islam while working at a salon, even as a Kashmir mosque claimed he adopted the religion voluntarily.Vishal Kumar, a resident of Khanjahanpur Bahadar village under Bijnor city police station limits, had gone to Kupwara because of financial hardship. His family said they received calls, videos and a letter from an unknown number on May 17, showing him offering namaz, adopting a new Islamic identity and announcing his conversion.His father Krishna Kumar said Vishal was a minor and had gone to Kashmir with Waseem Ahmad of Kaziwala village. “My son passed his high school examination in 2023 and then went to Kashmir with one Waseem Ahmad from Kaziwala village to work at a salon. He returned home on May 5 and left again for Kashmir on May 10. On May 17, we received videos and a letter issued by a local mosque claiming that Vishal had embraced Islam. We were shocked after watching the videos,” he said.Krishna Kumar approached Bijnor police on May 17 and filed a complaint, alleging a larger conspiracy and demanding strict action against those responsible for allegedly forcibly changing his son’s religion. The videos later circulated on social media, following which local Hindu organisations became active and met district officials.Circle officer, Bijnor, Sangram Singh said, “Police have registered a case against the accused under relevant sections. A team has left for Kashmir to recover the boy. The investigation is underway.”Meanwhile, a letter purportedly issued by the office of Markazi Jamia Masjid, Glasdaji Manigah, in Kashmir, has surfaced on social media. It said that on May 15, at Markazi Jamia Masjid Glasdaji Manigah, Vishal voluntarily accepted Islam and was given the name Mohammad Hamza. The declaration said the conversion took place under the supervision of Maulvi Qayyum Ahangar in the presence of local witnesses, and claimed he accepted Islam of his own will, understanding and belief, without pressure or coercion.Police said further action would depend on the teenager’s statement after he was brought back and on examination of the videos, phone records, travel details and the role of those who took him to Kupwara.