Examiner Bureau | Leh:
Leh Police have apprehended eight individuals for their suspected involvement in organised religious conversion-related activities in various parts of Ladakh, officials said on Thursday.
Acting on credible inputs regarding alleged proselytisation activities, police registered a case at Police Station Leh under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to officials, the accused are suspected of recruiting local youth for conversion-related activities in regions including Zanskar, Changthang, and the Aryan Valley.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the group had allegedly rented a residential premises in the Skampari area of Leh, where offices were established for the translation and distribution of religious literature. The premises are also suspected to have been used for activities linked to religious conversion.
Police have launched a detailed investigation to ascertain the scale and extent of the alleged network across Ladakh. Authorities are also examining possible financial transactions and any links to foreign funding.
Officials said appropriate legal action will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and urged the public to cooperate with law enforcement agencies while refraining from spreading unverified information.
Religious conversion has historically remained a sensitive issue in Ladakh, often influencing socio-political discourse in the region. However, in recent years, public attention has increasingly shifted toward issues such as constitutional safeguards, land rights, employment protection, and political representation following the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019 and the creation of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
