Innocent Hindu villagers lured and induced to convert to another faith in Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan
Jhunjhunun, Rajasthan, India 
10 June, 2026
Case Summary
In Khiror village, Nawalgarh Tehsil, Jhunjhunu district, Rajasthan, innocent Hindus were lured and induced for religious conversion. Upon information of the religious conversion activity, hundreds of Hindu residents gathered at the Balaji temple in the main market on the night of June 9, 2026 (Tuesday) and passed a unanimous resolution to shut down the village market indefinitely in protest against forced religious conversions being carried out in the area. The villagers demanded immediate and stringent action by the administration against the accused, warning that the agitation would be intensified if the authorities failed to act swiftly. According to the villagers, a resident of Parsarampura named Ashok Kumar had been inducing and luring people in the surrounding villages to convert to their religion. Ashok Kumar had been in the custody of Daadiya police for three days at the time of the meeting, yet villagers stated that no substantive action had been taken against him. His wife, Sonia, was also involved in the conversion activities. Villagers stated that she had been arrested and subsequently released without any meaningful action being initiated against her. The assembled residents demanded the immediate re-arrest of Sonia and strict action against all individuals found to be involved in the matter. The village market was unanimously resolved to remain closed from Wednesday morning, 10 June 2026, until the administration physically arrived at the site and took concrete action against the accused. Villagers also resolved to submit memoranda to the Tehsildar, Sub Divisional Officer, District Collector, and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, pressing their demand for accountability and action. The villagers made their position unambiguous that cases of religious conversion would not be tolerated under any circumstances and that those involved in such activities would face social boycott. Hundreds of residents from Khiror town and surrounding villages attended the meeting, raised slogans against the administration, and demanded immediate redress. The meeting was addressed by BJP Rural Mandal President Kishanlal Gurjar, Shakti Singh Shekhawat, Yogendra Singh Shekhawat, retired Subedar Jugal Kishore Katewa, youth activist Nagendra Singh, and retired teacher Govardhan Lal Kuldeep, among several others. At the time of writing this report, the market closure was in effect, and no information was available regarding any fresh arrests or administrative action in response to the villagers' demands.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Predatory Proselytisation. The subcategory selected is- Conversion/attempts to convert by inducements. 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. In this case, the accused tried to lure the Hindu victims by offering them various inducements. Poor and vulnerable villagers, deprived of basic amenities like two square meals a day, usually get lured by such juicy inducements and agree to give up their faith. Since exploiting vulnerabilities for the explicit purpose of conversion is purely based on animosity towards the victim's faith, this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Others
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
