Bhupendra Shukla and family forced to convert to Islam [ Punjab , India ]

[ Reported as seen ]

On October 3, Bhupendra Shukla revealed that  a group of radical Muslim men were threatening his family to convert to Islam. Initially they offered him Rs. 2 lakh for the conversion. When he refused, the group that is associated with a dargah  attacked him. He further said that the group looted his shop and took away valuables.

Shukla is from Gonda, Uttar Pradesh but that family has migrated to Neechi Mangli area of Ludhiana, Punjab. The family has been living in the area for the past 6 years. It comprises of Shukla’s mother, wife and two children. His younger brother and sister also live with him. He works as a security guard and has a small make-shift shop that is run managed by his mother and sister.

In the video, he said, “I have filed a complaint to Police as well. Please circulate this video so that someone from Hindu groups can help me.”

Shukla said he never faced such an issue while living here, but for the past six months, a group of Muslim men from Sherpur Colony have been visiting the migrant Hindu families in his area. They try to lure Hindu families to convert to Islam and offer money in return. In the video, Shukla said, “I would like to know how much money these people have that they offer money to everyone if they convert.”

According to Shukla, the group tells the Hindu families that everyone is converting to Islam, and they should do the same. They try to convince the families that Hindus do not have a support system, but if they convert and ask others to do so, they will become stronger.

The victim further said that a group of eight men first came to him on September 30. They left after Shukla got angry. A day later, on October 2, they came back, but this time they indulged in violence. “They threw our stuff on the ground. They took away the beedi and matchboxes from the shop that amounted to at least 10,000 rupees. They also took Rs 5,000 cash that was kept inside. When I tried to record their video, they snatched my phone and took away that as well,” he said.

Shukla identified Sirtaj Ali, who is the nephew of the caretaker of the Mitti Wale Baba Dargah. He said, “I do not recognise others as they all were wearing skull caps and sported long beards.”

In a media report, Shukla said that the Police did not act on his complaint despite the fact that he had shared the information about the key accused in the case. He said that he had visited Ishwar Colony Police Station in Dhandari Kalan on October 3. They took the verbal complaint and sent him away.