Kanpur: A shocking case of alleged religious coercion has emerged in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, after a young man allegedly committed suicide by hanging. A video that surfaced posthumously shows the deceased claiming he was being forced to change his religion. In the video, the youth asserts, “I am being forced to convert, but I will remain on the path of my faith,” before taking his life. The clip went viral on social media, creating widespread concern, though NBT Online has not independently verified its authenticity. Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal confirmed that an investigation has been launched.
Incident Details
The deceased, identified as Rohit, also known as Deepak, was found hanging near his home in Panki on Friday morning. His family raised an outcry, demanding immediate action. According to the family, Rohit had been traveling by train to Lucknow on January 26 to meet his sister when he was allegedly assaulted by a group of four to five individuals and pressured to convert. Upon returning home, he reportedly remained under severe stress, culminating in his suicide. The police have assured action against the four unidentified individuals allegedly involved.
Background
Deepak managed a small retail shop in Ratanpur Colony and lived with his family, which includes two daughters and two sons. His elder sister Nisha stated that the incident began during his journey to meet a friend in Lucknow. She claimed that the attackers forced him to visit a religious site for conversion.
In the video, Deepak also expressed broader concerns, stating, “Cannabis is changing religion, not anyone else. I only want cannabis banned and women’s dignity respected in India. Forgive anyone I met or knew. I am going to hang myself. Religious conversion is happening across India.”
Police Investigation
Following the viral video, two police teams were dispatched to Charbagh station to review CCTV footage, which shows Deepak disembarking from the train alone. The family alleged visible injury marks on his body. Local authorities, including the Ratanpur police station in-charge Amit Sahay, reportedly visited the scene but allegedly did not take the video seriously initially.
The incident also drew political attention. Kalyanpur MLA Neelima Katiyar, Bajrang Dal leader Naresh Tomar, and former MLA Satish Nigam visited the site, leading to tense exchanges with the family. Bajrang Dal has reportedly issued a two-day ultimatum to the police regarding the investigation.
Police Commissioner Raghuveer Lal has assured that a thorough inquiry is underway.
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