MEERUT: At least 80 people are behind bars and 21 others on the way in Uttar Pradesh after being ordered under the state anti-conversion law, according to data issued by the police.
Since the promulgation of Uttar Pradesh prohibits the conversion of religion that violates the law, 2020 in November last year, the police have submitted 63 FIR and ordered 162 people.
A top police officer on Wednesday told Ti that seven cases from 63 were closed after no evidence found against the defendant.
He rejected the allegations that the country’s police submitted a “reckless case”.
Ordonance which became law in February 2021 forbid anyone from changing or trying to convert to other religions by persuading, marriage, coercion, etc.
The Director General of Police (Law and order) Prashant Kumar said, “It is wrong to say the law is being misused.
We have an example where after the police investigation did not find a reason to bring allegations of crime under the new Ambit Law.” The data provided by the ADG office said 96 people have been captured so far under new law, and 80 are in prison.
The rest comes out with a guarantee.