UP salon owner booked for illegally converting minor to Islam in J&K

UP Police booked a Bijnor salon owner for allegedly converting a 17-year-old to Islam in J&K's Kupwara. The minor's father said his son was taken to learn the barber trade and the conversion was discovered via a social media video.

The Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday registered a criminal case against a local salon owner after a resident of Bahadarpur village filed a complaint alleging that his 17-year-old minor son was illegally converted to Islam in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara under the pretext of learning the barber trade.

Police Register Case on Father's Complaint

Speaking about the incident, Circle Officer (CO) Sangram Singh said the complaint was filed today at the Kotwali Nagar PS and that the alleged conversion took place in Kupwara city of Jammu and Kashmir. "Today, an application was submitted at the Kotwali Nagar Police Station by Krishna Kumar, a resident of Bahadarpur village, stating that a few years ago, his son Vishal had gone to Kupwara, Kashmir, to learn the barber's trade alongside Waseem, a resident of Kazipada. He has now learned that his son has undergone a religious conversion. Acting immediately upon this information, a case has been registered under the relevant sections of the law," CO Singh said.

Father Alleges Breach of Trust

Detailing the background of the incident, the complainant and the victim's father, Krishna Kumar, stated that the family had trusted the accused due to a long-standing professional association, leaving them with no initial reason to suspect any ulterior motives. "My son is a minor. The boy Waseem, son of Liyaqat from the Kajiwala family, had taken my son away from home to teach him the salon trade. Over the past three to four years, he visited our home periodically, at intervals of six to eight months. During this time, he also gave us money. We never had any reason to doubt that he would take such a drastic step," Kumar said.

According to the family, the matter came to light unexpectedly through social media last week, prompting them to approach senior administrative and police authorities for immediate legal intervention. "We became aware of this situation on the 15th. On the 15th, he sent a video via Instagram stating that he had adopted the Islamic faith. Yesterday, we lodged a formal report with the Superintendent of Police... My son is 17 years and 4 months old," the father added, as a comprehensive police investigation remains underway.

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