In the Chitradurga district of Karnataka, a father-son duo faces charges for allegedly coercively converting a Hindu boy from the Kuruba community to Islam. This marks the first instance of a minor being booked under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act 2022, commonly known as the anti-conversion law. Notably, both the accused and the victim were classmates.
The case against the 17-year-old Muslim boy and his father, Garib, was initiated based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father in Parashurampura, Chitradurga, on October 29.
According to the complaint, the father of the 17-year-old Hindu victim became suspicious of his son’s behaviour. The son, a pre-university college student in Challakere taluk, had ceased participating in Hindu rituals and worship. The complainant further noted that his son recently opted out of the Dasara (Dussehra) festivities.
Upon searching his son’s backpack, the father discovered literature related to Islam and a skull cap. Additionally, a search of the boy’s phone revealed conversations related to ganja and other drugs.
“When I inquired, I discovered that the minor and his father had taken my son to mosques in various towns of the Chitradurga district and converted him to Islam without permission,” stated the complainant.
A police officer revealed that the father of the accused underage boy operates a cycle repair shop. The officer added that no arrests have been made in the case yet, although statements from both parties have been documented.
The case against the father-son duo is filed under Section 5 of the 2022 Act, which pertains to the prohibition of conversion from one religion to another through misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement, or marriage promise. Dharmendra Kumar Meena, SP of Chitradurga, informed reporters, “We are gathering details from both the victim and the accused as part of the investigation.”
The case has been registered under the 2022 Act’s section 5 (prohibition of conversion from one religion to another religion by misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by promise of marriage).
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