Karnataka Police Make First Arrest Under New Anti-Conversion Law

The man identified as Syed Moyin from Yeshwantpur reportedly made a 19-year-old woman convert on the promise of marriage at a mosque in Andhra Pradesh on October 6.

A man with handcuffs (Image for representation)

Chennai: The Karnataka police made the first arrest under Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, the new anti-conversion law brought into force in the state on September 30, in Yashwantpur on Friday. The man is a 24-year-old chicken stall worker. 

According to a report in Deccan Herald, the man identified as Syed Moyin from Yeshwantpur reportedly made a 19-year-old woman convert on the promise of marriage at a mosque in Andhra Pradesh on October 6. 

The woman from Gorakhpur of Uttar Pradesh moved to Bengaluru with her family 10 years ago. Her father works as a painter while her mother Gyantidevi is a homemaker. 

On October 5, police registered a missing case based on the complaint of her parents. Following this, the police started the investigation. Based on the preliminary inquiry, the police suspected that the woman eloped with Mueen since he was talking to him for the past six months. 

However, three days later the woman returned to her home and revealed to her parents that she converted to Islam on October 8. On hearing this, Gyantidevi approached the police again and gave a complaint alleging forced conversion.

Yeshwantpur police registered an FIR on October 13 under the Act. 

Talking to Times of India, DCP (North) Vinayak Patil said that the accused has been arrested and remanded in judicial custody. He is currently lodged at Bengaluru Central prison.

DCP said, the woman converted to Islam with her consent but she did not follow the procedures mentioned under the new law, as per Deccan Herald. 

As per the law, the woman should have given a declaration in Form-I 30 days in advance to the district magistrate about the wish to change her religious identity.