UP: Ghazipur Police Arrests Nepal Maulana Again Soon After Releasing Him In Unlawful Conversions Case—Here's Why

A Muslim cleric, arrested previously on charges of unlawful conversions and forgery, was arrested was apprehended by the Fatehpur police soon after his discharge from prison on the grounds of peace disturbance.

Maulana Firoz Alam, a 45-year-old cleric, had been incarcerated since 2021. He was arrested again due to a "provocative" gathering and crackers bursting at his residence in Ghazipur town on Friday (3 January), Indian Express reported.

“Along with Firoz Alam, we have arrested 18 others involved in the case. The action was based on a complaint alleging that upon his release, a grand welcome was held during which he delivered a speech,'" Station House Officer (SHO) Pramod Kumar Maurya said.

"The activities done on his welcome offended some people’s sentiments. All the accused have been booked on charges of disturbing public peace,” the Ghazipur police SHO said adding that that Firoz Alam, originally from Nepal, was freed from prison on Friday.

Upon his return home, Alam was greeted with a grand celebration, which reportedly involved the setting off of fireworks and the chanting of religious and festive slogans, according to the police.

Following a tip, the police promptly stepped in and detained 19 individuals, including Alam. Alam, a native of the Mahottari district in Nepal, has been living in India since 2001. Some years back, he was given the position of imam at a mosque in Ghazipur.

Prior to his arrest, he often made trips to Nepal to spend time with his family, which includes his two daughters. In October 2021, Alam was apprehended by the Fatehpur police due to his suspected participation in unlawful conversions and for holding fraudulent identification papers.

A search of his leased residence in Fatehpur led to the police allegedly finding a collection of identification documents, such as a PAN card, voter ID card, Aadhaar card, driving license, and passport, all registered under Alam's name.