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Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Coach, berth no. stamped on hands: How 56 women were saved from trafficking on train in Bengal
An unusually large group of young women traveling together, none of them carrying their tickets or documents — this was enough to spark suspicion among railway staff aboard the New Jalpaiguri-Patna Capital Express. The women, aged between 18 and 31, hailed from the Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar districts of West Bengal.(Representative image/AI-generated) What it revealed was a tale of false promises, preying on vulnerabilities, and a racket of trafficking. In all, 56 women were rescued and two persons accompanying them were arrested from the train at the New Jalpaiguri station in Siliguri, West Bengal, officials told news agency PTI. The women, aged between 18 and 31, hailed from the Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar districts of West Bengal. The ticket examining staff and the railway protection force (RPF) suspected something amiss when they found that none of the women had valid tickets on them. The coach and berth numbers were stamped on their hands, a routine check by RPF personnel revealed at the source station. The women told them they were promised employment at a Bengaluru-based company. Also read | UP ATS busts international trafficking racket The RPF found a man and a woman accompanying them who failed to clarify why the women were being sent to Bihar when they had been promised jobs in Bengaluru. They failed to produce any documents confirming job offers or the cited reasons for the travel, officials said. The accompanying duo were thus arrested at the spot. The women have, meanwhile, since been returned to their homes. Also read | How Bengal, India's human trafficking hub, is weaving a turnaround story The railway police and the RPF are jointly probing the case, especially the human trafficking angle. West Bengal also has a specialised cell against human trafficking in its Criminal Investigation Department. This Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTU) can be contacted on 033-24506114, as per the CID website.
The Print
4 days ago
- The Print
'Healer' on bicycle to conversion syndicate with Rs 60 cr in banks: The journey of UP's Chhangur Baba
Well, at least until 5 July. Since then he has been in the custody of the Uttar Pradesh Anti Terrorism Squad on the charge of orchestrating large-scale conversion and receiving unexplained foreign funding. Cut to 15 years later, and Jamaluddin has transformed. Now known as 'Chhangur baba' ('Chhangur' being the Hindi word for someone with 6 toes or fingers), he was driving a Toyota Fortuner with a bodyguard, and handing around Rs 500 to people he met. Balrampur/Lucknow: The sight of a man, riding a bicycle, carrying rings and other religious paraphernalia, was not unusual 15 years ago. But the fact that Jamaluddin had six toes on his left foot was definitely cause for comment—and memory—for residents of Utraula block of Balrampur in UP. The UP ATS arrested Jamaluddin and his associate, Neetu Navin Rohra, who goes by her converted name Nasreen, from a Lucknow hotel earlier in July. His son, Mehboob, and Nasreen's husband, Navin Rohra, were arrested in April on the same charge. The UP ATS has initiated a broader probe into an alleged syndicate of conversion to Islam and funding—mostly from the UAE—which resulted in assets worth crores for Jamaluddin and several plots of land. The UP ATS on Thursday arrested one more accused in the case, identified as Rashid Shah, who allegedly played an active role in the conversion racket and land deals. The latest arrest coincided with a wide-ranging operation by the Enforcement Directorate at 14 locations—12 in Balrampur and two in Mumbai. Over Rs 60 crore has been identified in 22 bank accounts allegedly linked to the conversion syndicate, to which money was transferred from Middle Eastern countries, predominantly the United Arab Emirates. 'The investigation is not limited to uncovering the modus operandi behind mass conversion, but will also probe the entire syndicate, including funding from foreign sources, a network of agents both in India and abroad, and the extent of the conversion racket,' the UP ADG Law and Order and Chief of the Special Task Force, Amitabh Yash, told ThePrint. Also read: 'Positive act' needed to show conversion to Hinduism—SC denies Christian woman's caste certificate plea Bicycle to Bajaj CT 100 and Toyota Fortuner Speaking to ThePrint, a 40-year-old shopkeeper in Utraula market said he wasn't in the least surprised that Jamaluddin or Chhangur Baba was now facing allegations of amassing immense wealth illegally. 'Every time he (Baba) used to come into the area, Naveen (his aide) used to go to the shops of locals, saying Baba has come directly to meet. People who had faith in his spiritual powers sought his blessings, kissed his palm and were paid Rs 500 each time,' the shopkeeper said, requesting anonymity. This unabashed display of riches and pomp was a phenomenon of recent years, though, Madhpur Gram Pradhan Amarnath Verma said. The eldest of the four sons of a farm labourer, from the neighbouring village of Rehra Mafi, Jamaluddin began his career as a 'healer' from a local shrine in Madhpur village. 'He used to sit on the ground with rings and other products outside the shrine, adjacent to his current sprawling residence in Madhpur. He also went around on a bicycle selling this wares to the villagers,' Verma told ThePrint. Eventually, he moved from bicycle to a motorcycle and then the Toyota Fortuner. These and his sprawling house, part of which has now been demolished by the local district administration after his arrest, are a visual manifestation of his rags to riches story. Jamaluddin's first break came in 2005, when he was elected Pradhan of Rehra Mafi, according to three villagers who spoke to ThePrint. The political rise, however, did not continue for consecutive terms, and he went back to his 'healing' business and selling rings. According to UP police officers, after losing the Pradhan's job in 2010, he visited Mumbai a few times and it was at this time that he met Mumbai-based couple Navin and Neetu Rohra at a Dargah. From the Sindhi community, the couple and their minor daughter were 'brainwashed' and converted to Islam, the UP Special Task Force has allegedly found in its preliminary probe. These conversions took place in November 2015 in Dubai, where they were issued a 'Certificate of Embracing Islam'. However, the UP STF, in its preliminary investigation, found that their travel dates to Dubai did not match their date of conversion in 2015. Moreover, their identification documents such as PAN and Passport are still in their original Hindu names, the STF has found. The same year, Jamaluddin's wife Kutubnisa won the panchayat election from his village, winning 360 out of 1,000 votes polled in the election as per records of the UP State Election Commission. By this time, Jamaluddin stayed mostly in his village, Rehra Mafi, except a trip to Saudi Arabia in 2018. Overall, through an analysis of information from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Lucknow, the UP STF found that Navin Rohra and Neetu alias Nasreen made 19 trips each to the UAE between 2016 and 2020 and 2014 and 2019, respectively. Rapid rise & Rapid unravelling Sources in the UP Police and villagers confirmed to ThePrint that the Baba's transformation started in the aftermath of the pandemic when the couple, Neetu alias Nasreen and Naveen, arrived in Utraula. Police officials and residents pointed out massive land deals in Balrampur, including one large residential campus in Madhpur village, which was bought and built over the last few years. Madhpur village pradhan Verma said that while high-end cars used to visit Baba at his Madhpur residence frequently, there was no clarity on either the extent of his syndicate or the source of his funds. 'Now that the agency has arrested him and we are looking at the reports, we can connect the dots of the story,' he told ThePrint in Madhpur, just metres from the Baba's campus. ThePrint had earlier reported that the Baba had local cops among his followers, and he extracted maximum advantage out of it to keep laws and agencies at bay. However, a tip-off to the STF in January 2024 set the ball rolling for criminal proceedings against him. By the time the STF shared its findings with the ATS in November 2024, it had allegedly unearthed an extensive network of agents and bank accounts used for the inflow of funds. The STF found that in eight bank accounts of Neetu alias Nasreen, there were credits and debits of Rs 13.90 crore and Rs 13.58 crore between February 2021 and June 2021. In one such bank account with the Bank of Baroda, there was a credit of Rs 5 crore from a foreign source, which the STF has flagged as suspicious. A similar scrutiny of Naveen Rohra's six bank accounts by the STF has revealed an inflow of Rs 16.22 crore through the National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system and a cumulative amount of Rs 18.68 crore from the UAE. The UP STF has also scrutinised the eight bank accounts opened in the names of Chhangur's firms, such as Asvi Enterprises, Asvi Charitable Trust, Asipia Hassani Hussaini Collection, and Baba Tajuddin Asvi Boutique. However, the STF has been unable to scrutinise the six vostro accounts (bank accounts that a domestic bank holds for a foreign bank in the domestic bank's currency) of Navin Rohra, as per the report filed with the ATS for the registration of the case in November last year. Based on the FIR of UP ATS, the Enforcement Directorate opened an Enforcement Case Information Report on 9 July and scrutinised all the bank accounts linked to syndicate members and firms. In its investigation so far, the federal probe agency has found over Rs 60 crore in funding, mainly received from the Middle East, in 22 bank accounts of the syndicate members and firms. However, sources in the UP Police conceded 'a lot of unknown elements' about the syndicate as of now, such as the extent of the number of conversions carried out by the syndicate, as well as the involvement of funds from abroad. 'The accused and victims are giving us differing numbers of people converted and the amount of money received by the syndicate. In the interrogation, Jamaluddin has revealed some facts which need to be developed further. There are a lot of details on the extent of both funding and conversion which need to be investigated,' a UP Police officer said. (Edited by Viny Mishra) Also read: Conversion racket 'kingpin' Chhangur Baba had senior cops among his followers, global network of agents
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Foreign funding, terror camp plans: FIR against conversion kingpin Chhangur Baba
The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has made explosive revelations in the FIR against Chhangur Baba, mastermind of the religious conversion gang, alleging that he was plotting to set up a terrorist training facility with the help of foreign Baba, alias Jamaluddin, and his associates were arrested earlier this month for orchestrating large-scale religious conversions. He is accused of receiving over Rs 500 crore through around 40 bank accounts from foreign sources, including Gulf countries and possibly to the FIR filed by the UP ATS, these funds were allegedly used to build a luxurious mansion in Balrampur and purchase premium SUVs like Fortuner and Creta. The money also funded anti-national activities, including the construction of a large building intended to be used as a terror camp. Police claim Chhangur Baba's conversion network extended beyond Uttar Pradesh, operating in several other states. Hindu women and minors were reportedly targeted and coerced into conversion. According to investigators, Chhangur Baba had built a team that received commissions for each successful ATS has so far arrested Baba's son Mehboob, and associates Naveen Rohra and Neetu alias Nasreen, who are believed to be key players in the revealed that the operation followed a structured incentive system, with conversion payouts varying by caste. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the financial angle and the ownership of properties worth over Rs 100 crore, allegedly acquired illegally in Balrampur and Pune, some on encroached government Baba has denied all allegations, saying, "I am innocent. I don't know anything."FATWA AGAINST CHHANGUR BABAMeanwhile, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, national president of the All India Muslim Jamaat, issued a fatwa against Chhangur Baba and called for his boycott by the community.'The work done by Baba is not only illegal but also against the principles of Islam,' he said. 'Such a person should be boycotted.'Officials said the probe will continue to uncover the full extent of the religious conversion gang's operations and its national and international links. Raids are ongoing to locate other absconding suspects.- EndsMust Watch
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
UP ATS arrests Chhangur Baba's aide who helped trap vulnerable targets
Lucknow: UP ATS on Thursday arrested a key aide of alleged religious conversion syndicate mastermind Chhangur Baba. He is accused of acting as a middleman to lure and convert individuals through fraudulent means. The accused, Rashid Shah (40), is a resident of Madhpur village in Balrampur. He was wanted in a 2024 case connected to the state's biggest conversion racket. Officials said he was traced and apprehended during a focused operation in Balrampur and is being produced before court for further legal action. The arrest is linked to a case lodged at ATS Police Station, Lucknow, under Sections 121 (waging war), 417 (cheating), 420 (fraud), 153A (promoting enmity) of IPC, and Sections 3, 5(1), 5(2), 5(3), and 8(1) of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. According to ATS sources, Rashid Shah acted as a recruiter and facilitator, introducing vulnerable individuals to the conversion network and coordinating with handlers. He allegedly arranged safe meeting spots, influenced targets with monetary benefits, and ensured logistics for conversion rituals orchestrated by Chhangur Baba's syndicate. ATS officials believe Rashid played a pivotal role in expanding the network's reach in Balrampur and adjoining districts, often under the guise of offering financial aid and spiritual counselling. His arrest is expected to provide crucial leads about funding patterns, local accomplices, and foreign links. ATS plans to seek custodial remand to extract details of his links with hawala-funded activities, property deals, and possible cross-border connections exposed during recent ED raids tied to the same racket.
News18
6 days ago
- News18
Noose Tightens Around Changur Baba As ED Carries Out Searches In Mumbai, UP's Balrampur
The locations are connected to Shehzad Sheikh, a member of Changur Baba's illegal religious conversion nexus, who sold a piece of land to the latter Days after registering a case against Changur Baba, alias Jamaluddin, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out simultaneous raids across 14 locations connected to him—two in India's financial capital Mumbai at Mahim and Bandra and 12 in Uttar Pradesh's Balrampur. The locations are connected to Shehzad Sheikh, a member of Changur Baba's illegal religious conversion nexus. ED sources told CNN-News18 that Sheikh sold a piece of land to Changur Baba and received Rs 2 crore for it. The agency suspects that these funds are proceeds of crime and is hence questioning Sheikh at his Bandra residence. Apart from this, the agency also found five foreign accounts linked to Changur Baba in the UAE. The identification of the bank accounts is being seen as a milestone in ED's quest to identify the money trail. The investigation carried out by UP ATS has revealed that Changur had at least 40 local bank accounts through which at least a hundred crore was moved around. According to sources, the money was transferred into these accounts from the Middle East as well as through the Hawala route. During interrogation with the UP Police, Changur Baba has accepted that he was involved in religious conversion and claims to have recruited at least 3,000 people spread across 578 districts of the country to identify and convert global targets. The ED is now trying to figure out how many times and how much money was actually transferred through these foreign bank accounts till date. WHO IS CHANGUR BABA? A small-time seller of gemstones and rings, Changur's fortunes changed around 2020 when he styled himself as a 'pir' and spiritual guide with a sudden rise in wealth and status. After gaining people's trust, he made them believe that he has miraculous healing power. Convinced by his 'miracles', his 'followers' were slowly brainwashed and forced to convert to Islam. UP ATS had also revealed that Changur, the kingpin of the racket, targeted women from non-Muslim communities and even maintained a 'rate list" for their conversions. A report in Aaj Tak quoted sources in ATS as saying that Changur had plans to build a 'Dawa Kendra' on the India-Nepal border and funding for the venture had started coming in from abroad. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
