Hindu villagers targeted for religious conversion under garb of prayer meeting in Dholpur, Rajasthan
Dhaulpur, Rajasthan, India 
27 September, 2025
Case Summary
A case of religious conversion created unrest during a prayer gathering in Surajpura village, under the jurisdiction of Sadar police station in Dholpur district, Rajasthan. Local Hindu residents, joined by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers, reported the organisers of carrying out conversion activities during the prayer meeting on 28 September 2025. Upon receiving the information, the police reached the location and intervened. Sadar police station in-charge Mahesh Meena confirmed that a prayer meeting was being conducted at a house in the village. Following the allegations, several people present at the event were taken in for questioning regarding conversion activities. Authorities noted that a large number of individuals were present at the gathering, and the matter was escalated to higher officials. The police stated that they were conducting a thorough investigation into the incident.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Predatory Proselytisation. Within this, the subcategory selected is - Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination. The tertiary category selected is- Pattern of targeting Hindus. Religious brainwashing essentially means the often subtle and forcible indoctrination to induce someone to give up their religious beliefs to accept contrasting regimented ideas. Religious grooming or brainwashing also involves propaganda and manipulation. It involves the systematic effort, driven by religious malice and indoctrination, to persuade “non-believers’ to accept allegiance, command, or doctrine to and of a contrasting faith. Cases of such grooming or brainwashing are far more nuanced than direct threats, coercion, inducement and violence. In such cases, it is often seen that there is repeated, subtle and continual manipulation of the victim to induce disaffection towards their own faith and acceptance of the contrasting faith of the perpetrator. While subtle indoctrination is widely acknowledged as predatory, an element which is often understated in such conversions or the attempts of such conversion is the role of loyalty and trust which might develop between the perpetrator and the victim. Fiduciary relationships are often abused to affect such religious conversion. For example, an educator transmitting religious doctrine of a competing faith to a Hindu student. The Hindu student is likely to accept what the teacher is transmitting owing to existence of the fiduciary relationship. The exploitation of the fiduciary relationship to religiously indoctrinate victims would also be included in this category. Since the underlying animosity towards the victim’s faith forms the basis of predatory proselytization, such cases are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. This case has been added to the tracker because it illustrates a clear instance of predatory proselytisation, where conversion activities were conducted under the deceptive guise of a prayer meeting. The concealment of intent is itself an instrument of exploitation, designed to bypass scrutiny and gradually weaken the religious identity of Hindus in the locality. What was ostensibly presented as a harmless religious gathering was, in reality, being used as a vehicle to induce conversions, which is why it qualifies as a religiously motivated hate crime. The element of stealth is central here. By projecting the event as a prayer meeting, the organisers sought to avoid resistance from the community and authorities while simultaneously targeting vulnerable Hindu families. Such practices exploit unsuspecting individuals, often those who are economically disadvantaged, by subtly pressuring or enticing them with promises of relief, assistance, or social uplift. This manipulation of their vulnerable position in society is not simply a matter of religious expression but one of calculated coercion and exploitation. Conducting conversion drives under the cover of religious gatherings is an assault on the faith and social cohesion of Hindus. It is not a benign exercise of belief but an organised effort to detach individuals from their ancestral religion by disguising proselytisation as prayer. The underlying hostility lies in the intention to disenfranchise Hindus from their tradition, thereby diminishing the strength of the community. This is why such acts are categorised as hate crimes against Hindus, because the religious identity of the victim is not incidental but the central target of the activity.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
