India: Muslim Leader Ajfarul Haq Arrested in Love-Trap and Forced Conversion Racket Targeting Hundreds of Hindu Women

FEB 16, 2026 12:00 PM
BY ASHLYN DAVIS

On February 3, 2026, the Uttar Pradesh police arrested Ajfarul Haq, also known as Prince, a local Islamic leader from Mumbai associated with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), in connection with a large-scale “love-trap” and forced religious conversion racket operating out of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh. Haq was arrested in Bandra, Mumbai, after evading police for several weeks following the registration of a serious criminal case against him and multiple associates.

The case originated from a complaint filed by a young Hindu woman from the Kalwari area in Basti who accused Haq of faking his identity to initiate a relationship with her. She added that the accused posed as a Hindu, wore religious symbols, and promised marriage and employment in order to gain her trust. She alleged that, beginning in early 2022, he sexually exploited her under false pretences and later pressured her to convert to Islam. When the victim confronted him, Haq and his family members allegedly assaulted and threatened her and her relatives to prevent her from approaching authorities.

As per the woman’s complaint, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered at Kotwali police station against Haq and several others under charges that include gang rape, criminal intimidation, cheating, and provisions related to unlawful religious conversion under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. According to media reports, police alleged that the Muslim leader was a member of a broader network that systematically targeted Hindu women by concealing their religious identities, establishing relationships, recording intimate moments, and using those recordings as blackmail to coerce religious conversion. Reports also suggest that the accused did not just lure young Hindu women into love affairs, but also raped them and pushed them into prostitution, and as many as 300 women may have been targeted by this network. Police have stated that they are verifying these claims and examining digital proof, including mobile phones and social media accounts, to determine the full scope of the alleged operation. Investigators are also probing whether financial transactions and external links indicate a larger, organized network. Authorities have not yet publicly confirmed the final number of victims, describing the investigation as ongoing and sensitive.
A
jfarul is also suspected of having links to organizations abroad that are under investigation, which has become a key focus of the investigation. Police are now probing whether a larger religious conversion syndicate or a possible terror financing network could be behind this incident. According to police records, he has been booked in more than 20 serious criminal cases, including heinous offenses such as robbery, extortion, fraud, and now rape. Haq’s close association with the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, a Muslim-centric political party headquartered in Hyderabad and led by Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, has also drawn notable attention to the case.

Founded in 1927, AIMIM presents itself as a political platform advocating Muslim rights and representation. However, AIMIM has repeatedly found itself at the centre of controversies due to its unabashed anti-Hindu stance. One of the most frequently cited incidents involves senior party leader Akbaruddin Owaisi, who in 2013 made a speech that included a controversial “15 minutes” remark, suggesting that if the police were removed for just 15 minutes, his people could show who is powerful and “finish” 100 crore (that is, one billion) Hindus. This publicly made comment was essentially an open threat or incitement against the Hindu population. The statement drew nationwide criticism and judicial review, with opponents accusing the party of promoting communal rhetoric. Surprisingly, the party also defended its leaders’ statements, and the episode continues to resurface in political debates to date.

AIMIM is accused of sharpening communal fault lines through identity-driven campaigning, and the arrest of Ajfarul Haq has exposed the Islamic party’s agenda behind existing and thriving in a secular, Hindu-majority country.

As of now, Haq remains in custody and is being interrogated by Uttar Pradesh police. Officials have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, that additional evidence is being analyzed, and that all allegations will be tested in court. Given its scale and political sensitivity, the case is expected to remain under close scrutiny in the weeks ahead.

The term “love jihad” is often used in India to describe the intent of trapping, deceiving, exploiting, and coercing the religious conversion of Hindu girls by Islamist men. Apologists of Islam and the Muslim-pandering liberal-leftist lobby in Indian media and politics have rejected the term as a conspiracy theory that unfairly singles out Muslims and communalizes interfaith “love.” However, recurring incidents involving the mass forced conversion of Hindu girls lend credibility to concerns around the claims of “love jihad” and point to a serious issue that warrants strict legal investigation.


Muslim cleric in a viral video

Explaining the commandment of the Prophet, Maulana Jarjis says, "O woman! Even if you are in the process of delivering a child and your husband wants to enjoy your body, and have sex at the time of delivery, then you will have to fulfil your husband's wish."

2 May, 2022
Opindia

A video of a Maulana Jarjis Ansari Hafizullah addressing a crowd and saying that Muslim women should offer themselves to their husbands under all circumstances has gone viral on the internet. In the viral video, Maulana explains that even if a Muslim lady is pregnant and about to birth a child, under any circumstances, she should not deny her husband if he asks for sexual pleasures.

In the video, Maulana says, “O Muslim woman! If you don’t allow your husband to take advantage of your body (sexually), you are committing a grave sin.”

Explaining the commandment of the Prophet, he says, “That’s why the Prophet said – even if you are about to deliver a child and your husband wants to enjoy your body, and have sex at the time of delivery, then O Muslim woman, you will have to fulfil your husband’s wish.”

He further states that if the woman does not satisfy her husband, he might go to another woman in search of satisfaction. “Because you alone can control the fire of his lust. If you won’t, your husband will go to other women to satisfy himself,” he added.

Reiterating the Prophet’s words, he declares that the lady must surrender her body at any cost and that she cannot refuse. The video has been gaining rounds over the internet with many people resharing it.

Maulana Jarjis has a history of making contentious remarks

For a long time, Maulana Jarjis Ansari Hafizullah has been known for his provocative views and hate speech. On December 18, 2019, a video of Maulana Jarjis threatening to wage Jihad in India was uploaded on YouTube, in which he opposes the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) bill, erroneously alleging that they are anti-Muslim.

Throughout his speech, he can be heard making disparaging statements against India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on several occasions.

In his hate speech, the Maulana boldly declares that if Modi or Shah tries to drive them (the Muslim community) out of the nation, he will wage ‘jihad’ to the very last corner of India. “Inke baap ke baap ke baap ki bhi takat nahi hain ki humme bahar nikaal de (their predecessors also do not have the guts to throw us out of the country), humme nikaal ke toh dikha Modi, hum bhi jihad karne se peeche nahi hatengein (try throwing us out Modi, we will not hesitate in waging jihad).”

Furthermore, about 3 minutes 30 seconds into his hate speech, the Maulana unabashedly warned the government to rescind the CAA and NRC or face ‘jihad.’

Another video of Maulana Jarjis went viral in March 2021, in which he said that relatives of women who do not wear the Burqa are referred to as ‘bh*dwa,’ a Hindi slang term for a ‘pimp.’

According to reports, Maulana Jarjis campaigned for the TMC in Bengal. Jarjis instigated Muslims in Bengal against the BJP and Prime Minister Modi, influencing people to vote for the TMC indirectly by spreading fear and hatred.


‘Woman with big breasts available in Paradise’, ‘Hoors do not urinate or defecate’: Kerala Maulana’s X-rated vision of paradise stirs controversy

Maulana Qasmi further claimed that rivers of wine flow in paradise along with gardens and big bungalows. He went on and said that the women who were in Allah's paradise neither urinate nor defecate.

23 November, 2021
OpIndia

Maulana EP Abubakar Qasmi has triggered controversy in Kerala after he recounted the advantages of being a Muslim. In his speech, Maulana revealed what Muslims get in ‘Jannat’ or paradise. According to EP Abubakar Qasmi, who gave Islamic speeches in Malayalam, ‘women with big breasts’ are found in paradise. Protests ensued after the offensive language was used by Maulana Qasmi on women as his speeches are popular with Muslims on social media.

Maulana Qasmi further claimed that rivers of wine flow in paradise along with gardens and big bungalows. He went on and said that the women who were in Allah’s paradise neither urinate nor defecate. He also added that Muslims going to Paradise get the privilege of sitting in the lap of the ‘Hoors’ there.

According to ‘Organiser‘, the Maulana said, “If a Muslim going to Paradise needs women with big breasts, then Allah gives them the ‘hoor’ of their choice. In Paradise, Allah has made a river of wine, and those who live there have full permission to swim. There is no restriction on drinking wine, because it is Allah who has created the river of wine.” However, in general, alcohol is considered haram in Islam and consuming it is prohibited.

Notably, Maulana Abubakar said that in Paradise, Muslims do not have to stand in long lines outside liquor shops, because everything in paradise was for free and its quantity is unlimited. Maulana Qasmi then claimed that the ‘hoors’ of heaven do not even have the power to think and understand.

“May Allah send a virus that kills 50 crores Indians”: Bengal Maulvi roared from the stage, video goes viral  

(One crore is ten million.) 

The cleric said that he does not mind whether he will die or survive but he will surely take Hindus with him 

OpIndia

4-2-2020 

While the entire world is busy combatting the rapidly expanding coronavirus pandemic, there are some people who are still not ready to get out of their religious sentiments even during such vulnerable times when the country is in a dire need to be united against the COVID-19. With dozens of videos on TikTok featuring Muslims claiming that Coronavirus can’t do any harm to them as they regularly pray to their God, a video of a Muslim cleric is circulating on social media, in which a Bengali Maulvi is demanding a virus from Allah that kills 50 crore people in India in one go. 

In this video, the maulana is saying in Bengali, referring to riots in Delhi- “recently I have got the news that mosques are being set on fire, mosques are being burnt for the last two days. I think something is going to happen within a month. May Allah accept our prayers. May Allah send such a terrible virus to India that ten to twenty to fifty crore people die in India. Am I saying something wrong? It is absolutely blissful.” After that, the crowd present there applauds the Naulvi’s statement. 

He also said that he does not mind whether he will die or survive but he will surely take Hindus with him. The cleric has been identified as Abbas Siddiqui, and reportedly the video is from 26th February. Which means he made the comments when the Coronavirus had already hit India and govt had already started taking steps to combat it.

This is the same cleric who had earlier threatened to block Kolkata airport if the Citizenship Amendment Act is not revoked in West Bengal.

The video came at a time when an FIR has been lodged against seven Tablighis including Maulana Saad of Tablighi Jamaat in Nizamuddin in Delhi. Recently, after the Islamic religious event of Tablighi Jamaat Markaz that was held in Delhi’s Nizamuddin area, many Muslims from various parts of the country were involved in the event that created a stir across the country.

Meanwhile, a video of Tablighi Jamaat Chief Mohammad Saad had also come to notice in which he was saying, “The tricks and schemes of those who do not believe in Allah have come to stop Muslims from making excuses to save them from the disease. He has got an idea to stop and disperse the Muslims so that this can sit forever in the mind that do not go near anyone, do not sit with anyone or else they’ll get the sickness. Today, if the illness of Muslims changes due to this disease, then the disease will end but we will lose respect.”

Saad has added further in the video, “The disease will change but the values of your masseur, sitting together, eating in a plate and its effects never add in view of issues. This is a program designed to create suspicion among Muslims and to end their love, a program has been made that this excuse is good from separating Muslims from Muslims.”

The Tablighi Jamaat’s emir Maulana Saad works in about 190 countries around the world. It has thousands of members. The Markaz has caused severe damage to the country during the health crisis in the country due to coronavirus. 

In an audio Saad was heard saying, “Where will you run away from death, death is going away with you. Therefore, on this occasion keep your wisdom and understanding. Do not just leave the prayers in the doctor’s wards, leave meetings. Why don’t you believe in 70 thousand angles? When Allah-tallah set the disease, how can I survive with any doctor or medicine? What will I do when 70 thousand angles could not save me?”

Saad was found spreading the rumour among the people of muslim community not to believe that if they meet in the mosque, the disease will spread. He sai that if the muslims will be present in the mosques, Allah tala will present the angles in this time.

Delhi police have registered FIR against 6 other organizers of Markaz including Mohammad Saad. However, Maulana Saad is reported missing since March 28.

 

 

Saffron leader Kamlesh Tiwari murder: 3 held in Gujarat, 2 U.P. Muslim clerics booked

LUCKNOW:, OCTOBER 19, 2019 

The Hindu

Bijnor clerics Maulana Mohammad Mufti Naeem Kazmi and Imam Maulana Anwarul Haq had ‘announced’ a bounty of ₹1.5 crore for ‘beheading’ Tiwari for his alleged controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad in 2015.

Three persons have been detained in Gujarat and two Muslim clerics booked in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, in connection with the murder of saffron leader Kamlesh Tiwari, police said on Saturday.

In a joint operation, the Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh police detained five persons in Surat but let off two of them after an inquiry, the police said.

The three detained were identified as Maulana Mohsin Sheikh Salim (24), who worked in a sari shop; Faizan (21), who was employed in a shoe store; and Rashid Ahmed Pathan alias Khurshid Ahmed (23), a tailor who also has knowledge of computers.

At a press conference in Lucknow, DGP O.P. Singh said that as per preliminary investigation, the three were found to be involved in the conspiracy of the murder. “We don’t know their criminal history yet. They could be brought to U.P. on remand for further questioning.”

Clerics had announced bounty

Clerics Maulana Mohammad Mufti Naeem Kazmi and Imam Maulana Anwarul Haq, who had ‘announced’ a bounty of ₹1.5 crore for ‘beheading’ Tiwari for his alleged controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad in 2015, were booked for conspiracy in the murder. They were being questioned, Mr. Singh said. 

They were named in the police complaint by the victim’s wife, Kiran Tiwari.

Mr. Singh claimed that there was no terror outfit angle in the case. There were two other persons, including the main accused, about whom the police were trying to gather information. Pathan “made the initial plan,” while Salim acted as a “propeller.” Salim had given a statement saying it was fair to murder Tiwari for his controversial comments, the DGP said. 

Prima facie, it was a radical killing. Tiwari had been provided adequate security in the form of a policeman and a gunner and there was no laxity on the part of the police administration, he added. 

Box of sweets

Faizan is accused of purchasing the box of sweets recovered from the house of Tiwari after the murder in the Naka area of Lukcnow. 

The two let off in Surat by the police after questioning were Pathan’s brother and Gaurav Tiwari who, a few days ago, called up Kamlesh Tiwari, offering to join his outfit, the Hindu Samaj Party, and run its unit in the city. However, there was no conclusive evidence of what was discussed, the DGP said.

Adityanath's warning

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said the murder was a "mischief done to create terror.” “Any elements spreading an atmosphere of fear and terror, [we] will wrongly crush their plans.” The guilty in the murder case won't be spared. He also hinted that he was willing to meet the cictim’s family.

Kamlesh Tiwari was cremated in his native Mahmudabad in Sitapur district after the administration agreed to the nine demands of his family. 

Security to family

Lucknow Divisional Commissioner Mukesh Meshram said the administration would provide adequate security and financial support to the family, while issuing Tiwari's eldest son a weapon licence besides recommending a job and a house in Lucknow.

A meeting with the Chief Minister would also be soon arranged for the family, Mr. Mesharam said. 

While the government has constituted a special investigation team to probe the murder, Kamlesh Tiwari's son Satyam Tiwari sought an investigation by the National Investigation Agency. “We don't trust the administration,” he told reporters.

 

Imam arrested for beating priest

DECCAN CHRONICLE
October 25, 2018

After news of the quarrel spread, BJP activists held a rasta roko at Pochamma Maidan junction and demanded the arrest of the imam.

Warangal: A 68-year-old priest of a Sai Baba temple near Pochamma Maidan junction in Warangal was beaten up by the imam of LB Nagar Masjid Syed Natiq Hussaini after the two argued over the use of the temple loudspeaker.

According to the police, the priest, Mr Devunoor Satyanarayana,  was preparing for puja early in the morning when the imam went to the temple at about 5.30 am and demanded that he shut down the loudspeaker which was playing the ‘suprabhatham’. When the priest refused, the imam started punching him. The incident was caught in CCTV cameras inside the temple.

Locals who heard the argument rushed to the spot. A flower vendor stopped the imam and asked him to leave. With the help of locals, the priest was shifted to the MGM hospital.

Doctors said the priest had sustained internal bleeding due to a ruptured liver and broken ribs. He was responding to the treatment but is yet to gain complete consciousness.

After news of the quarrel spread, BJP activists held a rasta roko at Pochamma Maidan junction and demanded the arrest of the imam. Natiq Hussaini who went missing after the incident was tracked down by the police by the evening and taken into custody.

Warangal Urban BJP district president Rao Padma said they were not sure if the police had got the right person as there was a difference between the man seen in the CCTV footage and the person being shown by the police.

“When similar incidents took place in other temples, the police showed a mentally challenged person as the accused. We are not convinced the police has got the right person this time,” she said.


Hugging someone of opposite gender forbidden in Islam

Nazar Abbas
TNN
Jun 23, 2018

MORADABAD: The district imam has pronounced as “illegal and un-Islamic” the act an unidentified girl hugging youthsoutside a shopping mall in Moradabad on the eve of Eid. A video of the girl hugging youths was widely shared on social networking sites. The girl hugged almost 50 youths who waited in a queue for their turn.

Traditionally, in Muslim society, women and girls are not permitted to hug or make any physical contact with male strangers, regardless of whether it is a festive occasion or not.

After facing flak for her act, the girl who had uploaded the video on YouTube apologized through social media.

The cleric also criticized the youths who hugged the girl and said they too violated Sharia laws.

District imam Maualna Mufti Mohammed Ashrafi told TOI, “I have spoken with the girl and convinced her that hugging the boys is un-Islamic and against the Shariat. She had committed this act in innocence and the same law applies for the boys who committed this un-Islamic Act.

"She is like my daughter and I have told her that under the Islamic law, you can only hug people who are ‘mahram’ to you (category of people with whom marriage is not permissible for example father, brother etc) and your spouse of course,” said Ashrafi.

The youth who hugged the girl should also perform repentance and never repeat it, said Ashrafi.


Kerala Islamic preacher MM Akbar arrested in Hyderabad: Here’s what he is accused of

MM Akbar, an Islamic preacher and managing director of Peace International School, was arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday. Akbar was wanted for allegedly igniting communal enmity through textbooks at his school in Kochi.

By: FE Online | New Delhi |  Published: February 26, 2018

MM Akbar, an Islamic preacher and managing director of Peace International School, was arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday. Akbar was wanted for allegedly igniting communal enmity through textbooks at his school in Kochi. According to police, Akbar had been residing in West Asia after escaping from the country. He is also the founder-director of ‘Niche of Truth’ which is an organisation engaged in spreading Islam, as per The Indian Express report.

Akbar was detained by immigration officials at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. A lookout notice was issued by Kerala Police against his name. Biji George, In-charge, Assistant Commissioner (Special Branch), Kochi Police said that they had issued a lookout circular for Akbar. He was detained at Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon after which Ernakulam (North) Police Station have taken him in custody. Police added: “A case against Akbar regarding promoting enmity had been registered. He was arrested in that connection.”

Earlier in October 2016, cops had registered a case against Akbar’s school after they found offensive themes in Class 3 students’ textbooks. An FIR under Section 153 A of the IPC was filed against Akbar and the publishers of the textbooks.

K Lalji, assistant commissioner Kochi Police, who are investigating the case, said police had earlier arrested three people associated with the publishers. However, they are now out on bail. Akbar had left the country after cops arrested the representatives of the publishing house.

The Peace Education Foundation currently runs 13 CBSE affiliated schools and it has been under the scanner after 24 Kerala youths went missing, allegedly to join Islamic State in June 2016.


Muslim cleric arrested for allegedly smuggling firearms

Tue, 4 Apr 2017
PTI

A Muslim cleric was today arrested from Vijay Nagar area here for allegedly smuggling firearms into the national capital region (NCR) from Bihar's Munger district.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team intercepted Tahir Hassan (55) at Tigri roundabout. They searched his baggage and found a dozen .32 bore pistols and 11 magazines in it, following which he was arrested, Senior Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar said.

Hassan, a resident of Sherpur area in UP's Muzaffarnagar district and a cleric of a mosque at Jansath, told police that the arms he was carrying from Munger in Bihar were to be supplied to criminal groups in Noida, Ghaziabad and other regions of NCR, he said.

The SSP said the man had been jailed in the past by the Muzaffarnagar Police's Crime Branch for allegedly supplying at least 500 illegal arms in the communally-sensitive district.


I only urged Muslims to terrorise evil doers

FMT Reporters
July 8, 2016

PETALING JAYA: Controversial preacher Dr Zakir Naik has clarified that he only urged Muslims to “terrorise” evil doers and insisted he never supported terrorists, India Today reported.

In a telephone interview with India Today Television, Zakir also alleged that the clips in which he spoke of former Al Qaeda chief, Osama bin Laden had been doctored.

Zakir – who has come under the spotlight after it was revealed that two of the gunmen who attacked a cafe in Dhaka which left 20 dead were inspired by the preacher – also claimed that the Bangladesh government had no problem with him.

The Mumbai-based preacher, according to the report, also claimed there were some quarters trying to spread hate in his name.

Zakir, India Today also noted, “has distanced himself from the controversial statement that “all Muslim should be terrorists.”

However, in a recording of the interview uploaded by the Indian broadcaster on its Facebook page yesterday, Zakir admitted that the clip which featured him saying that every Muslim should be a terrorist was not doctored.

Following the deadly attack last Friday, both India and Bangladesh have now launched investigations into the controversial preacher. Muslim clerics from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh meanwhile, want the popular preacher arrested, with a blanket ban on his TV network Peace TV.

Back in Malaysia, opinion is divided over the Salafist preacher, who created quite a stir when he was invited to give a series of lectures earlier this year in the country.

Malay right wing NGO, Perkasa called upon Muslims to defend Zakir, while Multiracial Reverted Muslims, a Muslim NGO, said those linking the preacher to the attacks were envious of his popularity.

The Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBCHST) has urged Putrajaya to rescind the Maal Hijrah award given to Zakir and ban him from speaking in Malaysia.

Hindraf Makkal Sakthi meanwhile wants the government to bar the errant preacher from entering the country and outlaw his teachings.

The Times of India
April 29, 2016

MUMBAI: Efforts may be on to end the practice of female genital mutilation that young girls in the Dawoodi Bohra community are made to undergo in India but their spiritual leader may not be convinced yet as he went on to publicly encourage the act of khatna (female circumcision) albeit indirectly, in his recent sermon at the Saifee Mosque in Bhendi Bazaar.

A four-minute audio clip from Syedna Muffadal Saifuddin's bayaan (speech) on the occasion of the 51st Syedna Taher Saifuddin's death anniversary, has gone viral over a mobile messaging app and generated conversations within the community on how the Syedna's endorsement may urge close followers of the spiritual head to continue with the painful practice.

The clip begins with a plea from the Syedna speaking in a mix of Gujarati and Urdu. "We should keep our things strong, stay firm. Even the big sovereign states, whatever it is they say, if it makes any difference to our things, then we are not prepared to understand!" he says and then adds. "The act has to happen! If it is a man, then it is right, it can be openly done, but if it is a woman then it must be done discreetly, but then the act has to be done. Please understand what I am trying to talk about..."

A Mumbai resident present at the Hussaini Mosque where the sermon was being beamed live on a giant screen confirmed that the clip was what he had heard being broadcast. "The Syedna was reading from a script which is usually the routine on such an occasion but all of a sudden he went off and started talking in a cryptic fashion. It was confusing at first. Then we gradually realized that he was talking about female circumcision when he used words like amal (act), mamlakat (states) and that the act must be carried out discreetly for women and openly for men. It was very disturbing for me and my wife," he told TOI. A close friend of the Syedna family dismissed such an interpretation of the Syedna's speech when TOI called him. "It was a general comment. Nothing specific. People are interpreting it differently," he said alleging that, "Those close to the new claimant to the Syedna title are trying to target our revered Syedna (Muffadal Saifuddin)."

A 36-year-old Bohra woman who has lived through the horrors of khatna and currently settled in the US expressed her anguish having heard the clip. "Just a month ago many of us in the US received a letter from the jamaat (local community unit) that works under the Syedna's guidelines. It said that we must follow the law of the land and not practice khatna. I was thrilled, at peace with my faith. What I just heard reflects hypocrisy. I'm disillusioned and worried."

Guwahati, July 19 (PTI): A Muslim cleric has been arrested for allegedly possessing 800 grams of brown sugar, worth about Rs 8 lakh, from an Upper Assam town, police said today.

Forty-five-year-old Imamuddin, a Maulana of a local mosque, was arrested yesterday from Dibrugarh town with the contraband, they said.

Interrogation is progressing and police is probing his possible links with any fundamentalist organisations active in the state, they said.