The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terror Squad (UP ATS) is currently conducting an intensive investigation into Jalaluddin, popularly known as Changur Pir Baba, for allegedly funding illegal madarsas near the India-Nepal border and running a large-scale religious conversion syndicate.

The agency believes that Changur Baba operated under the cover of religious institutions, using them not only to spread a covert conversion network but also to launder money potentially routed from foreign sources. This ongoing investigation, with links stretching across Uttar Pradesh's border areas and involving coded communications, financial trails, and suspected radicalization, has sent shockwaves through state administration and security circles.

Coded Communication: Unveiling the Secret Language of Conversion

One of the most alarming revelations is the use of coded language to discuss conversion-related activities. The UP ATS has reportedly intercepted and decoded multiple phone calls where Changur Baba and his associates used terms such as:

• "Mitti paltana" (turning soil) – a metaphor for converting someone.

• "Project" – a term for a targeted girl in the network.

• "Kajal" – used to signify the mental harassment inflicted on the girl.

• "Darshan" – referred to arranging in-person meetings between targets and Changur Baba.

These code words, as confirmed by senior officials, were essential to keep their conversations obscure and immune to detection during surveillance. However, with ongoing technological monitoring and intelligence operations, the ATS successfully cracked this terminology, unearthing a covert mechanism employed to avoid scrutiny.

Madarsa Funding and Foreign Links

The ATS suspects that Changur Baba diverted foreign funds to operate and support illegal madarsas, particularly in regions close to the Nepal border. These religious institutions allegedly served as fronts for covert activities, including indoctrination and recruitment.

Preliminary findings suggest that he:

• Disbursed funds to Muslim youth under the pretext of social support.

• Offered monetary incentives for conversions.

• Maintained a “rate card” for each girl converted – further exposing the commercialized nature of the network.

Officials are currently examining financial trails, overseas remittances, and transactions through shell accounts or hawala networks. The possibility of international ideological links is also being probed.

Crucial Evidence from Balrampur Mansion

The ATS has seized critical documents and digital devices from Changur Baba’s mansion in Madhpur village, located in the Utraula region of Balrampur district. These materials are believed to hold information on the syndicate's structure, financial records, and recruitment strategies.

On July 11, the team interrogated Changur Baba on-site for over an hour before returning to Lucknow with the recovered evidence.

Notably, Changur Baba was arrested on July 5, along with co-accused Neetu alias Nasreen, and remains in ATS custody until July 16. The arrests followed a week-long remand granted by the NIA court, allowing time for deep-dive interrogations and digital forensic analysis.

Earlier Arrests and Demolition Drive

Two of Baba’s associates – Naveen alias Jamaluddin and his son Mehboob – have been in judicial custody since April. The UP administration has also razed illegal structures built on government land and allegedly used for syndicate operations.

This forms part of a statewide crackdown on illegal encroachments tied to criminal and radical entities, a drive that has gained momentum under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s administration.

CM Yogi Adityanath: 'An Anti-National Agenda'

Speaking on the development, CM Yogi Adityanath remarked that the operations linked to Changur Baba appeared not only anti-social but also anti-national. His statement underscores the seriousness with which the state is treating the case, and the potential threat posed by such covert networks.

He further affirmed the state’s commitment to:

• Rooting out coercive conversions.

• Neutralising illegal religious infrastructure misused for radicalisation.

• Safeguarding communal harmony and internal security.

The Chief Minister’s zero-tolerance stance signals that the investigation may lead to further arrests and policy-level interventions in regulating madarsas and cross-border activities.

Public Reactions and Political Impact

The case has drawn widespread attention, not just from investigative bodies but also the public, media, and political stakeholders. While some community leaders have raised concerns over potential misuse of conversion laws for communal targeting, law enforcement insists that the case is based on hard evidence, audio recordings, and financial documentation.

The public discourse now revolves around:

• How religious spaces are being manipulated.

• The role of foreign funders in Indian religious ecosystems.

• The need for stringent vetting of educational and religious institutions.

What Lies Ahead: Possible Legal Ramifications and NIA Entry

Given the gravity and scale of the operation, sources suggest that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) may soon be formally brought into the case, either to supervise or take over the investigation, particularly if foreign funding is established conclusively.

Legal experts predict possible invocation of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act), Money Laundering charges, and sections under the Anti-Conversion Law passed in UP. The case is also likely to prompt statewide audits of madarsas, especially those operating without registration or government oversight.

Conclusion: A Deepening Crackdown on Conversion Syndicates

The arrest and probe into Changur Baba signals a broader tightening of the noose around illegal religious conversions and radical networks in Uttar Pradesh. With coded operations, structured payouts, foreign involvement, and illegally funded madarsas, the case represents a potent mix of ideology and organised crime.

The UP ATS is expected to file its first charge sheet by late July, while follow-up interrogations, financial tracking, and digital analysis will continue. All eyes are on how this case shapes future enforcement strategy — both in border areas and across India’s sensitive religious hotspots.

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