UP STF Nabs Woman In Goa For Receiving Foreign Funding To Facilitate Religious Conversion

Last Updated:July 21, 2025, 08:37 IST

A 26-year-old woman named Ayesha was arrested in Goa by the UP STF for allegedly receiving foreign funds to facilitate religious conversions in India.

Top UP Police sources told CNN-News18 that the ammunition is legitimate in origin, typically issued to licensed gun holders. (Shutterstock Image For Representation)

In a joint operation between the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) and the Goa Police, a 26-year-old woman, identified as Ayesha, was arrested in Goa on charges related to religious conversion.

The development comes as the Uttar Pradesh Police continues to make arrests in alleged links with the Chhangur Baba gang, accused of large-scale religious conversions and receiving foreign funds through the hawala route.

According to sources, Ayesha, originally from Odisha and currently residing in Goa with her family, had allegedly converted to Islam and was receiving significant foreign funding.

Sources said that these funds were being used to facilitate religious conversions across various parts of the country.

The UP Police, with the assistance of local authorities in Goa, took Ayesha into custody and have since brought her to Uttar Pradesh for further questioning.

Sources in the STF said the arrest was a major breakthrough as Ayesha was a key link in an international funding network. She received large sums of money from abroad, which were then used to promote religious conversion activities within India.

Investigations are ongoing to trace the funding sources and identify others who may be involved in the network.

On July 20, eight people, including a woman, were arrested in connection with a case of religious conversion in Uttar Pradesh’s Pratapgarh.

According to Additional Superintendent of Police (West) Sanjay Rai, acting on a tip-off, a police team searched Kachha Dube Ka Purwa village under Jethwara police station limits and arrested the accused.

During the search, police recovered religious posters, a wooden cross, religious literature, and photographs of Jesus Christ, officials said.

Police took action after allegations that the accused were involved in religious conversion, luring people to adopt Christianity, they said.

Besides, police also arrested a woman whose identity was not disclosed.

A case was registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 3/5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021.

On July 19, the Uttar Pradesh Police, under Mission Asmita, arrested 10 individuals across six states in a crackdown on an unlawful religious conversion syndicate.

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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