Forced conversion: Precautionary measures in place in Aligarh till December 25

Aligarh: Precautionary measures will remain in place despite the Hindu outfit calling off its conversion programme on December 25, district authorities said.

Dharam Jagaran Samiti, a western UP-based Hindutva group, on Wednesday called off its controversial conversion programme scheduled for December 25, ending days of stand-off.

District Magistrate Abhishek Prakash, while welcoming the decision of the outfit, made it clear that all precautionary measures will remain in place till Christmas.

"The organisers of this program had neither sought permission in writing for holding this programme nor have they given anything in writing regarding its cancellation. We are therefore maintaining our vigilance," Prakash said.

"From the very beginning we had made it clear that we are not going into the technicalities of granting permission for conversion or reconversion. Our contention is that after the Agra Mass Reconversion fallout, this had become an issue of law and order of the state.

"We cannot allow any program which would spread ill-will even if it is held in a private space," he said.

Satya Prakash Nauman, district president of the outfit, had last night said, "The proposed 'ghar wapsi' (conversion ceremony) planned for December 25 has been called off".

However, he did not elaborate the reason behind the outfit's u-turn.

Apparently, the arrest of the main accused in the alleged forced conversion in Agra, Nand Kishore, and the tough stand by the local authorities led the outfit to cancel its scheduled programme.