Tension in Saharanpur village as 3 held while counselling Dalit family to ‘convert’

A case has been registered into the matter on charges of disturbing the peace as well as communal harmony. Heavy police force has been deployed in the village.

According to Station House Officer of Kotwali Dehat police station Piyush Dixit, the incident took place Thursday night when some locals informed the police control room that a religious conversion was going on at a house in Piki village.

By the time police team reached the village, a mob of locals had gathered outside the house where Mustaqueem was staying on rent. On entering the house, police found Mustaqueem, his landlord Ramjani, a Dalit youth from neighbouring Kusana village Sachin Valmiki and his relatives Sudesh, Sawan, and Kajal together in a room. Valmiki’s relatives told the police that the youth, Mustaqueem and Ramjani were asking them to convert to Islam, the SHO said, adding that trio was arrested.

“According to the villagers, Mustaqueem had left the village a few years ago. He returned a couple of months ago and claimed that he has become a tantrik. He took a room on rent at Ramjani’s house. On Thursday, Valmiki approached some youths from the Dalit community, asking them to convert to Islam. The youths told their families and they all gathered at Ramjani’s house later,” the SHO said.

The accused were produced before the magistrate who sent them to 14 days judicial custody.

Heavy police force has been deployed in the village to maintain peace. Senior officials also held a meeting with the members of both communities on Friday to maintain law and order, the SHO said.