Three Muslims including a madarsa teacher, running conversion racket, sell books containing Muslim literature and objectionable articles related to Hinduism at Magh Mela in Prayagraj, arrested
Prayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, India 
16 January, 2023
Case Summary
A plan of an alleged attempt at religious conversion during the Magh Mela was busted in Prayagraj. As many as 204 books containing Muslim literature and objectionable articles quoting and misinterpreting verses from Hindu Dharmic scriptures were recovered. Three people were arrested by the special operations group of the UP police and a team from the Daraganj police station. The arrested mastermind of this gang is identified as Mahmood Hasan Ghazi, a madrasa teacher. When the other two were questioned, they identified themselves as Ashish Kumar Gupta and Naresh Kumar Saroj. However, after being brought to the police station, two Aadhaar cards named Monish and Sameer were found. While distributing the books, the perpetrators clicked photographs with the buyers. They also took the contact numbers of those people. The purpose of this activity was to spot the soft targets and later convert them.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. In this particular case, the Muslim accused were overtly trying to convert non-Muslim Magh Mela attendees by abusing and disparaging Hinduism while glorifying Islam. In an effort to indoctrinate Hindus against their religion—which itself is a product of hostility towards the Hindu faith—they were selling books that extolled Islam and disparaged Hinduism. Since the motivating factor of the crime was the religious identity of the victims and the intention of the accused to disenfranchise them from it, the case has been categorised as a hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
