Hindu Dalits including children induced to convert to Christianity under pretext of curing ailments
Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
14 September, 2024
Case Summary
In Pakhrauli village under the Kotwali Dehat police station in Sultanpur, Uttar Pradesh, Hindus, including children, were lured into converting to Christianity under the pretext of curing ailments. According to media reports, the illegal conversion activity was taking place in the home of a Christian man named Achhelal. The Christian perpetrators gathered the local Hindus there and promised them that their ailments would be cured if they converted to Christianity. The police were informed about this, and Achhelal’s house was raided. The accused, Achhelal, Rajiv Kumar, Mukesh, and Subhash Kumar were arrested by the police. The FIR was lodged under Section 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act. Police Circle Officer Abdus Salam stated, “We received information that Achhelal’s house was involved in unauthorised conversion activities under the pretence of traditional healing practices. Upon investigation, it was found that Kanhaiyalal, son of Chhotelal from Bhadiyan, Lambhua, was responsible for the conversions. Achhelal, along with his accomplices, was accused of exploiting the superstitions of poor Dalits, children, and adults by promising to cure their illnesses and fulfil other desires.” Following the arrest, all the accused were presented before a court and sent to judicial custody. Reports also stated that the accused were connected to other Christian conversion rackets involving individuals like Kanhaiyalal and Raju, who were carrying out illegal conversions of Hindus in other locations.
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- Conversion/attempts to convert by inducement. 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 case is a clear example of a hate crime against Hindus, marked by the deliberate targeting and exploitation of their faith and vulnerabilities. The Christian missionaries employed a deceptive tactic, luring Hindus by promising that their ailments would be cured if they converted to Christianity. This was not an act of kindness or genuine concern but a calculated inducement designed solely to coerce people into abandoning their Hindu religion. Such inducements are inherently anti-Hindu, aiming to undermine the very foundations of Hindu belief through deception and health-related inducements. The Christian perpetrators’ actions reveal the depth of animosity they harbour towards members of the Hindu faith, highlighting the religiously motivated nature of the crime. The manipulative nature of this case exposes a systematic effort to exploit vulnerable Hindu communities, preying on their hopes and fears to enforce conversion. This is a blatant display of religious hostility, where false promises serve as weapons against the adherents of Hinduism. Deliberately exploiting the sickness and suffering of Hindus to advance conversion is reprehensible and constitutes an attack on the dignity and identity of the victims. Conversions obtained through external persuasion or manipulation, rather than personal conviction, directly violate the religious autonomy of Hindu victims. This clearly demonstrates that religious animosity was a driving factor behind the offence. What makes this case even more egregious is the inclusion of minors among the victims. The Christian perpetrators exploited the innocence and immaturity of Hindu children, who lack the capacity to consent or comprehend the long-term consequences and implications of conversion. Targeting minors is a deliberate strategy to weaken the Hindu society by stripping away the next generation’s faith under false pretences. Such actions demonstrate a deliberate attempt to exploit the vulnerability of minor Hindu children and enforce Christianity upon them. This glaringly demonstrates the religiously motivated nature of the crime. Furthermore, the perpetrators' connection in this instance to other Christian conversion groups suggests that this is not an isolated incident; rather, it appears to be part of a well-coordinated effort to convert Hindus to Christianity, showcasing deep-seated religious animosity as a motivation behind the crime. These instances of targeted proselytisation stem from inherent hostility towards the victims’ faith, reflecting beliefs within Abrahamic religions that non-adherents must be dehumanised until they convert. This demonstrates doctrinal animosity towards Hindus; therefore, this case is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Case sub-judice
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
