Fitness centres or conversion trap? UP police reveal ‘gym jihad’ modus operandi; gangsters act invoked against 10 owners

VARANASI: Police have invoked the stringent Gangsters Act against 10 gym owners in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur on charges of running a racket in which women were allegedly forced to convert to Islam and sexually exploited as part of an operation dubbed "gym jihad".

Gangsters Act is slapped after a process that involves approval from top district authorities. It allows punitive steps such as attachment of properties. The 10 suspects are now in jail after being arrested in Jan-Feb this year on a series of charges tied to conversion and abuse of women.

The gyms had been sealed after FIRs based on complaints from some of the women who were targeted, police said. Investigators suspect that more than 50 women may have been snared in the alleged operation.

Mirzapur ASP (City) Nitesh Singh said chargesheets had been filed against the 10, including alleged kingpin Imran Khan. The case was registered on Jan 19, initially under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, and IT Act.

The police claimed Khan and the others targeted Hindu women under the guise of providing gym training, luring them into his conspiracy. He and his associates allegedly established physical relationships with them, created objectionable photos and videos to blackmail them, extorted money, and coerced them to convert. These activities amounted to serious crimes that spread fear and terror in society, the police said.

According to ASP Singh, the charges under UP Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act have been added after finding sufficient grounds during the course of investigations.

The officer said that properties allegedly acquired by the accused through illicit activities would be identified and proceedings started to confiscate them under the Gangsters Act.