In a first for Karnataka, a minor and his father were arrested for ‘converting’ a classmate to Islam.

A juvenile kid has been charged for allegedly converting a classmate to Islam under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act 2022, also known as the anti-conversion law.

The youngster and his father were arrested in Parashurampura, Chitradurga district, 236 kilometers from Bengaluru, on the basis of a complaint filed on October 29 by the father of a juvenile boy from the Kuruba group. The boys are both 17 years old.

The complainant became suspicious of his son’s behavior, a pre-university college student in Challakere taluk, when he stopped doing pooja and worshipping Hindu deities. According to the complaint, the boy lately declined to join in Dasara celebrations.

“When I checked his bag, I discovered photos of my son performing namaz as well as skull caps.” When I inquired, I discovered that the youngster and his father had taken my son to mosques in various locations throughout the Chitradurga area and converted him to Islam without my knowledge. 

When I checked his bag, I also found some written materials about Islam. “When I checked his phone, I discovered some drug and ganja-related conversations,” the father explained.