Bhubaneswar, Aug 4: Severe allegations of conversion have surfaced in Odisha. Religious conversion is rampantly going on under the guise of running residential schools. A racket by Faiz Rehman is active in Odisha. Taking advantage of poverty and simplicity, people are being exploited. A long list of misdeeds by Faiz Rehman, spanning from America and Canada to Odisha and West Bengal, has surfaced.

Conversion is going on not just in remote areas but in more than 19 districts of the State. Conversion centers have emerged. Faiz Rehman has allegedly opened various organisations under different names, stretching from America and Canada to West Bengal and Odisha.

Registered in Bengal, the organization is reportedly carrying out major conversions in Odisha. Grave allegations of religious conversions are going on under the name of residential schools. Mastermind is none other than Faiz Rehman.

In 2019, Faiz Rehman was accused in a POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) case. Allegations surfaced from Dhenkanal, where he was accused of subjecting minors to physical and mental abuse. For this, some hostels were shut down in 2019. Now, Faiz Rehman is reportedly operating those same hostels again.

In West Bengal’s Nayagram police station, complaints have been filed against Faiz Ahmad along with five other individuals, according to a source.

After the exposure of this shocking scandal in Odisha, instructions were issued to the Superintendents of Police (SPs) across all districts to conduct an investigation. The State Women and Child Crime Prevention Division has submitted a report of the investigation to the Director General of Police (DGP), revealing details of the illegal act.

Hostels named 'Dream Centre' have been opened in multiple districts across the state, most of which are operating without any official approval from government departments. Children below the age of 18 are being kept there unlawfully.

Prime motive behind opening ‘Dream Centre’ is alleged to be religious conversion. Forceful conversion is allegedly being carried out among poor children from Scheduled Castes and Tribes.

SPs have written to respective District Collectors to take action.

Foreign funding of crores are allegedly being brought in under the pretence of operating hostels. These hostels are reportedly being run using foreign money obtained unlawfully, in clear violation of the Central Government’s Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).

It is alleged that crores of rupees have been sourced from foreign lands for the purpose of religious conversion. Allegations also claim that this money is being used for activities linked to terrorism, child sexual abuse, and trafficking of young women.

Further, there are grave allegations against Faiz Rehman, the alleged mastermind behind this shocking scandal, of inflicting physical and mental abuse on girls. Multiple photos have surfaced depicting minors in objectionable conditions.

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