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Cleric arrested, shortly after release from jail, for ‘grand welcome’ at home ‘with bursting crackers, religious slogans’

Along with Firoz Alam, police arrested 18 others. Alam had just been released from jail where he had been held since 2021 on charges of illegal conversions and forgery

Alam, originally from Nepal’s Mahottari district, had been residing in India since 2001. (Representational Photo/Express File)

Fatehpur police arrested a 45-year-old cleric, Maulana Firoz Alam, shortly after his release from jail where he had been held since 2021 on charges of illegal conversions and forgery. The arrest was made on charges of breach of peace following a “provocative” reception at his house in Ghazipur town on Friday.

“Along with Firoz Alam, we have arrested 18 others involved in the case. The action was based on a complaint alleging that upon his release, a grand welcome was held during which he delivered a speech. The activities done on his welcome offended some people’s sentiments. All the accused have been booked on charges of disturbing public peace,” said Pramod Kumar Maurya, Station House Officer of Ghazipur police station, Fatehpur.

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He added that Firoz Alam, a native of Nepal, was released from jail on Friday. According to the police, Alam received a grand welcome upon reaching his home. The celebration allegedly included bursting crackers and chanting religious and celebratory slogans. Acting on a tip-off, the police swiftly intervened and arrested 19 people, including Alam, said Maurya.

Alam, originally from Nepal’s Mahottari district, had been residing in India since 2001. A few years ago, he was appointed the imam of a mosque in Ghazipur. Before his arrest, he frequently traveled to Nepal to visit his family, including his two daughters.

In October 2021, Fatehpur police arrested Alam for his alleged involvement in illegal conversions and possession of forged identity documents. During a search of his rented house in Fatehpur, police had then claimed to have recovered a PAN card, voter ID card, Aadhaar card, driving license, and passport, all in Alam’s name.

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