In a series of recent incidents in Uttar Pradesh, police have arrested several individuals under the state’s anti-conversion law, accusing them of attempting to convert Hindus to Christianity through unlawful means.
The incidents, which span multiple districts, have raised concerns about the role of allurement in religious conversions, with the cases largely based on complaints filed by Hindutva activists, The Wire reported.
The first incident took place in Rampur district, where four individuals were arrested on October 2. Police allege that these individuals, operating from a coaching centre in Khata Chintman village, were trying to lure Hindu boys and girls into converting to Christianity by offering free meals and coaching for civil services examinations.
Himanshu Max, the manager of the coaching centre and a resident of Uttarakhand, along with a teacher named Ashutosh and two others, were detained. The arrest was made after a student from the centre, also a native of Uttarakhand, lodged a formal complaint.
According to the complaint, the coaching centre would admit poor Hindu boys and girls under the guise of offering free education and coaching. However, it is alleged that much of the time spent at the centre was dedicated to promoting Christian teachings, with only minimal attention given to civil services preparation.
The students, along with poor men and women from nearby areas, were reportedly exposed to Christian prayers and teachings during regular Sunday gatherings, which authorities claim were designed to influence their religious beliefs.
In a separate incident in Ghaziabad, police registered a case on September 29 after receiving a complaint from a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The complainant accused a pastor from Delhi of unlawfully converting Hindus to Christianity during gatherings held at Ekta Public School.
It is alleged that 30 to 40 Hindu individuals were being influenced to convert through religious practices and promises of healing from illnesses. Following the complaint, Ghaziabad police arrested five individuals on charges related to unlawful religious conversions and outraging religious sentiments.
A third incident occurred in the Sevanagar area of Ghaziabad, where five people were arrested on September 24. Hindutva activists, acting on a tip-off from a Bajrang Dal member, barged into a house where Christian prayers were being held. The complainants alleged that materials related to the Christian faith were found, and they claimed that those involved were attempting to convert local Hindus by offering financial incentives and promises of cures for illnesses.