The first FIR under the newly promulgated ordinance on Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, popularly known ‘love jihad’, has been registered in Uttar Pradesh’s Bareilly district. A case under Sections 504/506 IPC and section 3/5 of the ‘Vidhi Virudh Dharam Parivartan Adhiniyam’ (anti-conversion law) has been registered in the matter at Deorania Police station.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Cabinet on November 24 cleared the Ordinance, proposing a maximum punishment of 10 years for ‘love jihad’ related offences. The case registered on Saturday evening was filed on the basis of the complaint lodged by one Tikaram, a resident of Sharifnagar village, against one Uvaish Ahmad who had allegedly been stalking his daughter for quite some time. The accused had allegedly been forcing Tikarma’s daughter to convert and marry him. The police filed the case after receiving a complaint from the victim’s father and directed the arrest of the accused. The police came to the house of the acused to nab him but he had already fled.
According to the ordinance, a marriage will be declared null and void if a woman converts solely for the purpose of marriage. The maximum punishment for violators can be a jail term of up to 10 years. Under the new law, those who are willing to change their religion will have to apply to the district magistrate two months ahead.
