Hindu villagers targeted for conversion through prayers and religious preaching by Christian pastors
Navsari, Gujarat, India 
25 March, 2026
Case Summary
In the Sara village of Vansda in Navsari, Gujarat, Hindu villagers were targeted for conversion through prayers and religious preaching by Christian pastors. According to reports, on 26 March 2026, a public programme was organised to felicitate a retired jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force. The event was held at night and attended by a large number of villagers. During this time, the situation turned tense as Christian prayers and religious preaching were being conducted during the gathering. Several pastors, including one identified as Pastor Daniel Shinde from Maharashtra, were present at the programme, which was aimed at converting Hindu villagers to Christianity. The situation escalated into a confrontation between the two sides in the village, leading to a ruckus at the venue, the videos of which rapidly spread across social media. Local residents objected to the scale and conduct of the programme and stated that no prior administrative permission was taken for such a gathering. Subsequently, a team from Vansda police station reached the spot, intervened to defuse tensions, and restored order after discussions with both sides. Police presence was subsequently increased in the village to maintain peace, and the situation was brought under control. Villagers later submitted a written application to the police, seeking a thorough investigation into the incident and appropriate legal action if any unlawful religious activities were found to have taken place.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of Predatory Proselytisation. Within it, the sub-category selected is- Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination. 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 the 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 proselytisation, such cases are considered religiously motivated hate crimes. This case has been added to the tracker because the incident in Sara village of Vansda reflected a targeted attempt to influence and alter the religious identity of Hindus through organised religious activity by Christian pastors conducted under the guise of a public felicitation programme. What appeared to be a community event organised in honour of a retired CRPF jawan included structured Christian prayers and preaching, indicating that the gathering was not merely ceremonial in nature but also aimed at converting Hindus to Christianity. The presence of multiple pastors, including individuals from outside the state, and the scale of the programme pointed towards a coordinated effort rather than a spontaneous religious expression. By conducting such gatherings, the Christian pastors sought to manipulate vulnerable Hindus, taking advantage of their emotional and social circumstances to push them towards conversion. . The manner in which the programme was conducted, including the absence of prior administrative permission and the subsequent tension it generated, demonstrated an attempt to carry out religious propagation in a way that avoided scrutiny. By embedding preaching within a public function, the organisers created an environment where religious influence could be exerted subtly, particularly in a rural and socially close-knit setting where such gatherings attract broad participation. Additionally, the use of prayer gatherings and religious preaching as instruments to convert vulnerable Hindus reflects a well-established method of influencing belief systems, where repeated exposure to sermons, collective prayers, and emotionally charged religious narratives is used to gradually reshape an individual’s faith orientation. Such settings are not merely devotional in nature but function as structured environments aimed at religious conversion. The Christian faith, by its very theological foundations, places a strong emphasis on proselytisation. In pursuit of conversion objectives, Christian evangelists often employ unethical means, ranging from psychological pressure and misinformation to inducements such as money or jobs. In such cases, Christian missionary groups often target and brainwash socially and economically vulnerable Hindus to further their agenda of religious conversions. This form of coercion strips Hindus of their agency and dignity and enforces forced conversions. These are not random or isolated incidents, but rather premeditated efforts to undermine the Hindu faith, persuade Hindus to discard their own faith, and convert to Christianity. Such acts were deeply rooted in religious animosity towards Hindu victims, and thus, this case was added to the tracker. Disclaimer : As media reports indicated that 3–4 pastors were present at the event, including Daniel Shinde, the number of perpetrators has been recorded as 4 for the purposes of this case.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
