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Balrampur: The district administration here has removed around 80 per cent of illegal constructions on government land allegedly encroached upon by Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba, the 'mastermind' of a religious conversion racket nabbed by the Uttar Pradesh ATS, an official said on Thursday.
He informed reporters that eight bulldozers have been deployed to clear the encroachments, covering an area of around one acre.
"The action began on Tuesday and is still underway. On the first day, 20 per cent of the illegal construction was demolished. By Wednesday, 80 per cent of the illegal construction was demolished," the senior official said, adding that it would continue till the land is completely free of encroachment.
Additional Superintendent of Police Vishal Pandey said a complaint was received that Chhangur Baba had grabbed government land in Madhyapur village, and a probe found the allegation to be true.
Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Wednesday secured a week-long custody of Jalaluddin alias Chhangur Baba and his associate Neetu alias Nasreen.
Four people had been arrested in connection with the case. While Chhangur Baba and Nasreen were arrested last Saturday, two other co-accused, Naveen alias Jamaluddin and Jalaluddin's son Mehboob, were arrested in April.
The police have alleged that the accused acted in an organised manner to convert individuals from Hindu and other non-Muslim communities to Islam. Investigators allege that the racket targeted poor labourers, widows, and vulnerable individuals, who were allegedly coerced, misled with financial incentives, or manipulated through marriage proposals.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had said, "In the initial probe, it has come to light that the activities of the accused Jalaluddin are not only against society but also against the nation." Asserting that there will be no leniency in matters related to law and order in the state, the chief minister had said that properties of the accused and others linked to his gang would be seized, and strict legal action would be taken against them.
The case, registered at the ATS police station in Gomtinagar, Lucknow, includes charges under BNS Sections 121A (waging war against the state), 153A (promoting enmity), 417 (cheating), 420 (fraud), and provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.