A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed by the Madhya Pradesh police solely for the investigation of forced religious conversions. The move comes after the Bhopal rape and blackmailing case where a group of men had concealed their religious identity and assaulted women before coercing them into religious conversions, as reported by The Indian Express.
The SIT is tasked with comprehensive duties pertaining to the identification of such cases, tracking the perpetrators, or organisations that may be involved and also exploring the potential inter-state and international syndicates in relation to these crimes. Analysis of digital platforms for gathering evidence along with providing preventive measures to curtail such incidents is also within the scope of responsibilities of the special unit.
The SIT is headed by Bhopal (Rural) Inspector General of Police also constitutes senior officials such as the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime & Headquarters), Urban Police Bhopal; the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Women Safety Branch; and the Superintendent of Police, State Cyber Cell including others.
While constituting the SIT, Madhya Pradesh police headquarters asserted that they have received intelligence that, “socially vulnerable and weaker sections of girls/women have been systematically targeted through tactics such as romantic entrapment, deception, threats, or other inducements, leading to their mental, physical, and social exploitation.”
“In these incidents, victims have allegedly been coerced into religious conversion through fear, pressure, or deceit. Such incidents are not only criminal in nature, but also pose a serious challenge to the dignity, freedom, and social harmony of women,” they added further.
