Religious Conversion Case: UP ATS Detains Changur Baba’s Key Aide Idhu Islam in Nagpur

The Uttar Pradesh Anti-terrorism Squad (UP ATS) has detained Idhu Islam, a prime accused and close associate of self-styled godman Jalaluddin alias Changur Baba, from Nagpur in Maharashtra in connection with an alleged organised religious conversion racket. The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that investigators say involves large-scale planning, foreign funding, and systematic targeting of vulnerable individuals.

Idhu Islam had been absconding for several months after being named in a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the UP ATS. Officials confirmed that a non-bailable warrant had already been issued against him, and his movements were under continuous surveillance before the arrest operation was executed in Nagpur.

Following his detention, Islam has been placed on transit remand and is being brought to Lucknow for further questioning. Investigators describe him as one of the principal coordinators of the network allegedly run by Changur Baba, who is accused of orchestrating mass religious conversions in Uttar Pradesh and beyond.

According to senior ATS officials, Islam is a native of Pratapgarh district in Uttar Pradesh and played a central role in establishing and operating the Bharat Pratikarth Sangh. The organisation, investigators allege, was deliberately portrayed as being affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in order to create confusion, gain legitimacy, and deflect suspicion from its true activities.

Nagpur was strategically chosen as the headquarters of the Bharat Pratikarth Sangh, officials say, to exploit the city’s national significance and mask the group’s real intentions. As the head of the organisation, Idhu Islam is alleged to have appointed Changur Baba as the regional chief for the Avadh region, giving him operational control over conversion-related activities in that belt.

The UP ATS has already filed a detailed chargesheet against Changur Baba and his son Mehboob in connection with an alleged illegal mass religious conversion operation in Balrampur district. Investigators claim that the father-son duo funded and managed a network that targeted Hindu women through deception, inducement, and psychological pressure.

According to the chargesheet, more than 1,000 Muslim men were allegedly financed over the last three years to lure Hindu girls into relationships with the objective of religious conversion. Law enforcement agencies say the operation was carefully structured, with specific roles assigned for identification, persuasion, financial support, and post-conversion management.

ATS officials further allege that Changur Baba amassed nearly Rs 500 crore from foreign Muslim countries to finance the conversion racket. The funds were reportedly used to provide monetary incentives, housing, and logistical support, particularly targeting poor, widowed, and socially vulnerable women.

The investigation has also revealed what authorities describe as a long-term ideological strategy. According to ATS findings, the group aimed to systematically expand conversions through coercion, intimidation, and exploitation, with an alleged broader objective of altering India’s religious demography by the year 2047.

Security officials have emphasized that the case is not limited to individual acts of conversion but involves organised planning, misuse of foreign funds, and deliberate attempts to undermine social harmony. Multiple agencies are now coordinating to trace financial flows, identify additional operatives, and uncover the full national footprint of the alleged network.

With Idhu Islam now in custody, investigators believe they will gain crucial insights into the operational structure, funding channels, and decision-making hierarchy behind the conversion racket. Authorities have indicated that further arrests and disclosures are likely as the probe continues.