Five minors booked under UP anti-conversion law in Bareilly-Moradabad case

What happened:
Uttar Pradesh Police have registered an FIR against five minor Muslim girls under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, following allegations that they persuaded their 16-year-old Hindu friend to wear a burqa in Moradabad.

Who is involved:
The accused are five Muslim girls aged between 15 and 17. The complainant is the brother of the Hindu girl, who approached police after a video of the incident surfaced on social media.

When and where:
The incident took place on December 12, 2025, in Moradabad district but came to light this week after the FIR was registered at Bilari police station.

What the complaint alleges:
According to the complaint filed by the girl’s brother, the minors allegedly took his sister away while she was wearing a burqa, raising suspicions of unlawful religious influence or intent. He claimed the girls “may have had ill intentions,” prompting him to approach the police.

What police say:
Moradabad rural superintendent of police Kunwar Akash Singh confirmed that an FIR has been registered under Section 3 of the anti-conversion law and that the matter is under investigation.

Police officials said the girls and the Hindu minor are friends and that all involved are believed to be underage. A senior officer stated that the group was heading to a restaurant and may have tried to avoid being seen by the complainant, whose shop lies on the route.

“Fearful of getting caught, the Hindu girl may have worn her friends’ burqa,” the officer said, adding that the case was registered due to the sensitive nature of the complaint.

Legal context:
Section 3 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act deals with conversion through misrepresentation, force, fraud, coercion or allurement. If convicted, and if the victim is a minor, the law prescribes a minimum punishment of five years, extendable up to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment.

Current status:
As all the accused are minors, police said they cannot be taken into immediate custody. Authorities are examining the video evidence and are probing the background and intent behind the incident.

What to watch next:
Investigators are expected to record statements from all parties involved and determine whether the incident constitutes an offence under the anti-conversion law or was a misunderstanding among minors.