Lucknow: The controversy surrounding Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, a resident of Uttaraula in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur and currently in jail for religious conversion, continues to intensify.
As authorities tighten the noose around Chhangur, more families are stepping forward to share their traumatic experiences. Several victims and their families reached Lucknow on Tuesday and narrated their ordeals at a press conference organised by the Vishwa Hindu Raksha Parishad (VHRP).
Gopal Rai, National President of VHRP, announced that the organisation will provide legal and emotional support to the victims through a dedicated helpline to ensure justice.
Azad Singh, a resident of Ghaziabad, broke down while recounting the disappearance of his daughter, a second-year BA student.
The girl, missing since April 2, had taken jewelry, Rs 50,000 from her bank account, and Rs 1.5 lakh in cash from home. Eight days after her disappearance, she called a tenant and claimed to be safe, speaking from a number later traced to one Zakir Khan.
Singh said he realised the connection only after watching news reports about Chhangur. His daughter often mentioned visiting a shrine in Dadri and speaking about someone named Chhangur after returning.
Raghunath Nishad, from Balrampur's Mahua Dhar Bilaria, shared a similar ordeal. His daughter's marriage was already arranged but she fell into a trap set by Mubarak Ali, the son of Chhangur’s alleged agent, Naseeb Ali. Nishad alleged that his daughter was lured, married off, and forcibly converted. Despite efforts, he said, the police have provided no help in locating her.
Sunil Negi, from Meerut, said his sister went missing in 2019. She had been working in Noida and became close to a colleague, Badar Akhtar. According to Negi, Akhtar manipulated and brainwashed her over time. Communication with her dwindled until she told the family she feared for her life. She also revealed Akhtar had forcibly taken her money and coerced her into religious conversion.
Another victim from Bangalore, speaking about a more recent case, alleged she was gang-raped in Saharanpur in 2024. She had met a man named Raju Rathore on Instagram, who posed as a Hindu and gained her and her family’s trust. Later, she discovered the deceit and became a victim of horrific abuse. She claimed that despite filing a complaint, no action has been taken so far.
During the press conference, Gopal Rai claimed to have helped 15 individuals return to their original faith after allegedly being converted to Islam. He said that the incident caught the attention of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, prompting swift action by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS). Rai said that VHRP has pledged full support to those affected and urged the state government to act firmly to prevent further such incidents.
