Nagpur: In a pre-dawn operation, a joint team of Nagpur Police, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), and Nagpur ATS arrested a key associate of self-styled preacher Changur Baba from Ashinagar in north Nagpur on Saturday.
The accused, identified as 40-year-old Idhu Islam, was arrested around 5 am from a narrow lane in Ashinagar. Islam is described by investigators as a close helper and money manager for Changur Baba. Pachpaoli police and other units of the city police were also part of the coordinated operation.
According to sources, Islam had an arrest warrant pending against him and had been on the run for over two years. Despite sustained efforts by Uttar Pradesh Police, he had repeatedly managed to evade arrest until the joint team tracked him down in Nagpur.
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Investigators said Changur Baba had deep roots in Nagpur in the past, where he was active in open grounds several years ago, before shifting his base and operations to Uttar Pradesh. Police allege that Changur Baba is involved in large-scale and planned religious conversions, and Islam played a crucial role in managing finances and logistics linked to these activities.
Further investigation is underway, and more arrests or disclosures are not being ruled out.
