Forced8217; into conversion by law amp; outlaws

Fear of torture and, possibly, violent death has forced him to stay away from family and home. He nearly gave up on January 5, when he attempted to commit suicide in front of Delhi PHQ in January. Now, though the Vigilance Department of the Delhi Police is conducting an inquiry, he is convinced his fate will change only if he changes his faith.

In the first week of February, he wrote to the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjidseeking protection. Later he met the Imam8217;s son. 8220;I told him that I wanted to convert and it was the only option left for me. I feel I will be protected as a Muslim,8221; says Gawa. But how? 8220;If the Imam gives me shelter, no one will dare to touch me. His word carries a lot of weight.8221;The Naib Iman then told Gawa to seek consent from his family. 8220;My family has agreed. In fact, all of us will go to Jama Masjid on Id-ul-Zuha and adopt Islam,8221; he says.

In 1993, when Gawa used to work as a newspaper vendor, he came to know about his neighbour and cloth merchant Kamlesh Sharda8217;s seedy business deals. He reported the matter to the police and the Income-Tax authorities. Sharda was arrested for income-tax evasion.

A few days later he tipped off the Punjabi Bagh police about two members of a notorious gang 8212; Mohan and Narain 8212; operating in west Delhi. Mohan and Narain were arrested and externed from the Capital for six months. And on March 11, 1993, the then DCP west rewarded Gawa with Rs 500 and acommendation certificate for his 8220;valuable contribution to public welfare8221;. Gawa says everything changed two years later, when Sharda came to know that his house had been raided and he had been arrested following Gawa8217;s tip-off. 8220;He had bribed some policemen to get the information. Then he wanted to take revenge. He blamed me for exposing him and asked me to compensate for his losses,8221; says Gawa.

Worse, Mohan and Narain also came to know that Gawa was a police informer. 8220;All of them made my life miserable along with the local police. I couldn8217;t believe that the same policemen who had rewarded me were now hounding me.8221;He says he was convinced further after the Punjabi Bagh Police booked him for extortion. But a city magistrate discharged him after 8220;finding no grounds8221; for the case.

He then approached the Delhi High Court and explained his position. The court directed the local police to protect him. The threats abated for some time.

In 1998, when Sharda and the others returned with the threats,Gawa wrote to the High Court and recounted his ordeal. Once again, on May 26, 1998, the High Court directed Delhi PHQ to provide police protection to Gawa.8220;The directive infuriated Sharda and the local police. This time they started persecuting my relatives. I went underground hoping it would stop. But the Paschim Vihar Police picked up my brother-in-law,8221; says GawaA senior official in the Vigilance Department of the Delhi Police says: 8220;We have received a complaint form Gawa. We are trying to get to the bottom. If anyone is found guilty we will initiate action against him.8221; Till then, Gawa says he will continue to run from pillar to post, seeking justice. And on Id-ul-Zuha he will go to Jama Masjid.