A Muslim family in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat district on Tuesday converted to Hinduism after failing to get support from police and their own community in probing the ‘unnatural death’ of their kin.
Akhtar, a resident of Badarkha village, converted to Hinduism on Tuesday along with 13 members of his family, submitting an affidavit to the area sub-divisional magistrate.
Akhtar told reporters that he hoped his new religion would help get the police to “properly investigate his son’s murder.”
Akhtar’s 22-year-old son, Gulhasan, was found dead, hanging from the roof of his store recently.
Drawing attention to the injury marks on his body, the family claims that he was killed by business rivals in the village, “We told police that it (Gulshan’s death) was a planned murder but they told us that he committed suicide,” The Indian Express quoted Gulhasan’s eldest brother, Dilshad, as saying.
“On July 11, our cousin Rajudeen had scuffled with local residents. No FIR was lodged in connection with the scuffle. Since we supported Rajudeen, people in the locality did not ask us,” Dilshad said.
The police’s lackadaisical attitude compelled the family to move court and seek an FIR into the death. “Under the court’s direction a murder case was registered against four residents of Navada village on August 28,” Dinesh Kumar, Station house officer at the Kotwali police station said, as reported in The Indian Express. “The autopsy cleared it as suicide. After the FIR was lodged, we sent the autopsy report to medico legal experts in Lucknow for their opinion. After obtaining that, we will proceed further,” Kumar said.
Looking for better prospects, the family had recently shifted to Badarka village in the district from Navada village. According to the family members, on receiving no help from their own community, they next approached a local Hindu outfit, Yuva Hindu Vahini-Bharat, for redressal.
“Almost ostracised by our community, we decided to come back and also to convert. We will continue our fight for justice,” said Naushad, Gulhasan’s eldest brother.
“Our father gave in writing that all 20 members of our family of four brothers, their wives and children will adopt new names. My youngest brother’s wife and my elder brother Jakir and his family backed out. But 13 of us, including my parents and brothers’ families, converted,” The Indian Express report quoted Dilshad as further saying.
“We converted because our own community did not support us. By embracing Hinduism we are expecting justice from our new community.”
“Our outfit was formed in February in Lucknow and we are taking out programmes in various states for welfare of our Hindu brothers. We also help those who want a ghar wapsi and this was why our activists in Baghpat have helped a Muslim family in conversion,” Shivraj Singh Chauhan, national president of the Yuva Hindu Vahini-Bharat, said. The Vahini claims UP chief minister Adityanath as its ‘prerna srot’ (source of inspiration).
“The family has given an affidavit that they wanted to convert as per their will. They are not happy with the investigation in the case involving death of a member. The issue will be taken up with the SP (City)”, The Indian Express quoted Baghpat district magistrate Rishirendra Kumar as saying.
SP (City) Shailesh Kumar Pandey reportedly met the family and assured them a probe if they move a fresh application. “But in any case, we are ready to probe the case and bring the culprits to the book if they are found guilty,” Pandey said, according to the Indian Express report.