Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow
Lucknow, Jul 19: In a major breakthrough with serious national security implications, Uttar Pradesh Police have unearthed a radicalised illegal religious conversion network allegedly funded from abroad and inspired by ISIS tactics. Operatives were found targeting vulnerable communities with a blend of coercion, manipulation, and foreign-funded indoctrination.
Acting under the state’s strategic initiative “Mission Asmita”, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Special Task Force (STF) arrested key figures, including Mohammad Umar Gautam, Mufti Jahangir Alam Qasmi, and more recently Chhangur Baba alias Jalaluddin. The operations, officials say, mimicked ISIS’s recruitment and radicalisation methods.
At a press briefing on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh DGP Rajeev Krishna outlined how the syndicate exploited economic and social vulnerabilities to carry out mass conversions. The networks, he revealed, had links to banned groups like the Popular Front of India (PFI) and received foreign funding — particularly from Canada — intended to destabilise communal harmony in India.
“These are not isolated religious activities,” the DGP stated. “They are part of a broader transnational conspiracy involving radical ideologies and external funding to disrupt civil order.”
Conversion, Coercion, and Radicalisation
The criminal syndicates reportedly lured individuals with money, false promises, and threats, often preying on those from marginalised backgrounds. Arrested individuals operated across multiple states, indicating the pan-India scale of the racket. A major bust in Agra led to the arrest of 10 operatives from six states, all linked to the same network.
Jalaluddin, according to intelligence inputs, ran a highly structured network that modelled its strategy on ISIS’s doctrine of indoctrination and subversion. Officials claim that he and others were not just facilitating conversion, but also acting as nodes for ideological radicalisation — raising red flags across central agencies.
Foreign Funds, Domestic Threats
Investigations into financial trails revealed direct international remittances, particularly from Canada, to fuel operations in India. These funds were allegedly used to organise conversion events, distribute material benefits, and sustain operatives embedded within target communities.
“This is a matter of national security. When foreign funds are used to support ideologically radical activities, it transcends legal boundaries and enters the realm of extremism,” DGP Krishna warned.
Firm Stand Against Radical Networks
Backed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s directives, the state police are intensifying their crackdown with intelligence-based action. Officials said increased vigilance during public festivals and events has already curbed potential unrest.
“Mission Asmita will remain central to our ongoing fight against coercive conversions and radicalisation,” said the DGP. “We will continue to work with national agencies to dismantle such networks and protect the social fabric of our state.”
The police have also hinted at broader upcoming operations as part of a zero-tolerance approach toward terror-linked activity disguised under religious or social motives.