Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
The Banashankari police have arrested five people including a former BBMP councilor in a case related to forceful conversion .
The accused have been identified as Ansar Pasha,a former councilor of Banashakari ward , Nayaz Pasha president of a local mosque,Haaji Saab,Ataur Rehman and Shoaib.
The police had arrested Ataur Rahman and Shoia
b earlier while the other three were arrested on Thursday. Nayaz Pasha was nabbed from Tamil Nadu.
Senior officer said,Sridhar, hailing from Mandya, was interested in converting to Islam.The accused persons also got the circumcision ritual performed on Sridhar.
After that,Sridhar did not want to proceed further but the accused forced him to get converted, the police said.
The case was earlier lodged in Navnagar police station in Hubballi and was transferred to Banashankari police station since the alleged crime occurred .
Sridhar who had a family problem get in touch with the accused who offered to help him to get rid of the problems and lured with financial help.
The accused promised him help and transferred Rs.50,000 to his account and brought him to Bengaluru to preach and practice Islam.
The accused also threatened Sridhar with revolver when he resisted their forceful conversion and strict procedures.
They blackmailed him and also threatened him with dire consequences .
In the complaint Sridhar alleged that the accused had fed him beef in spite of his opposition and sent him to study the Quran at various places. .
The police have launched an investigation to ascertain whether the accused were running conversion racket and gathering the technical evidence .
