Husband-wife duo arrested for converting people to Christianity by distributing religious books
Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
12 October, 2024
Case Summary
In the Mahuaria area of Nagar Kotwali Sultanpur, police arrested a couple for attempting to convert people to Christianity by distributing religious books. On receiving a tip-off, authorities found that individuals were being gathered inside a house and encouraged to adopt Christianity through explanations and religious material. The incident occurred recently when Salvin and his wife Saini were reportedly propagating Christianity and luring people with false promises about the faith. Upon investigation, police confirmed the allegations and arrested the couple on the spot. The arrested duo was taken into custody and brought to the police station, where a case was registered against them. CO City Prashant Singh confirmed that after receiving the information, the police acted swiftly, arriving at the scene and catching the couple in the act. Legal proceedings were initiated against Salvin and Saini, and further action was taken.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the sub-category: Conversion/ attempts to convert by inducement, under the core category of Predatory Proselytisation because of the various distinct components that demonstrate the perpetrator's bias against the Hindu faith and the deliberate attempt to alienate the victims from their Hindu identity. Predatory Proselytisation is not just limited to threat, harassment, force and violence, but it also has contours of stealth. In several cases, the Hindu victim is exploited to convert, with non-Hindus taking advantage of their poverty. In such cases, the Hindu victim who is suffering financially is offered monetary benefits, including lucrative offers for jobs, health treatment, education, etc, to induce the victim into changing his/her religion. In such cases, the religious identity of the victim and the aim to disenfranchise him from his faith form the heart of the crime. Also, taking advantage of and exploiting an individual’s economic vulnerabilities is widely acknowledged as exploitation, forms of which are often penalised by law. Such cases therefore are considered religiously motivated hate crimes since the victim’s religious identity forms the very heart of the crime itself. This incident in Sultanpur exemplifies a case of predatory proselytisation, where attempts to convert individuals to Christianity were made by enticing them with promises and religious explanations. The couple, Salvin and his wife Saini, used religious literature and assurances about the faith’s benefits to influence those gathered, reflecting a targeted strategy to persuade individuals to change their beliefs. By disseminating religious books and hosting gatherings, they sought to engage and attract the community in a private setting, subtly framing conversion as a path to personal improvement or fulfilment. Since the motivating factor of the crime was the religious identity of the victims and the intention of disenfranchising them from it, the case has been categorised as a hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
