Hindus, including minors and women, targeted for conversion to Christianity through religious brainwashing and indoctrination in Raebareli
Raebareli, Uttar Pradesh, India 
6 January, 2024
Case Summary
In Behta Satanpur village of Raebareli, Hindu women and children were being converted to Christianity by members of a Christian missionary group. Pushpraj, a resident of Behta Satanpur and affiliated with the RSS in the Kheer police station area, approached the police, stating that minors, women, and men were being converted to Christianity by being made to read the Bible at the house of village resident Ram Prakash Kori, also known as Daniel. Acting on this information, Police Station In-Charge Devendra Singh Bhadoria conducted a raid at the location. Those present attempted to flee, but four Christians were apprehended at the spot. The station in charge confirmed that Ram Prakash Kori of Behta Satanpur, Pradeep Kumar of Shankarbax Kheda Majra Saguni, Ramprakash Kori, and Deshraj Kuril of Jai Singh Kheda Majra Lotna under Maurawan police station have been arrested, and a case has been registered against them.
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. Within this, the tertiary category selected is- 'Conversion of minor' and '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 qualifies as a hate crime against Hindus because the perpetrators deliberately sought to convert Hindu women, children, and men to Christianity. The targeted approach toward Hindus demonstrates that the intent was not merely religious conversion in general, but the systematic undermining of a particular community’s religious identity. The case demonstrates a clear pattern of targeting members of the Hindu community. The perpetrators specifically chose Hindu women, children, and men, showing that their actions were not indiscriminate but focused on undermining a particular religious group. This pattern reflects religious malice and animosity toward Hindu beliefs and practices, distinguishing the act as a hate-motivated offence. By repeatedly selecting Hindu victims and attempting to weaken their adherence to their own faith, the perpetrators are engaging in predatory proselytisation with a community-specific focus. It is also important to highlight that the victims in this case also include minors. This means the element of consent and genuine change of conscience was missing ab initio. Minors, due to their young age and lack of maturity, are particularly vulnerable to manipulation and coercion. They may not have the ability to fully understand the implications of converting to another religion, and the Christian perpetrator purposely targeted and exploited this vulnerability of the victim. This act exemplifies the use of coercion and manipulation to achieve the religious conversion of minors, making it a religiously motivated hate crime. Further, the seizure of Christian religious texts, specifically intended to induce conversion, demonstrates that this was not an isolated act of evangelism, but part of a broader, organised operation. When religious material is used to exploit trust and facilitate conversion by manipulation and brainwashing, it constitutes a religiously motivated crime, especially when done systematically. These instances of targeted proselytisation activities stem from inherent hostility towards the Hindu faith since Abrahamic faiths believe that any non-adherent to their faith is subject to being dehumanised till they convert, making it a religiously motivated crime against Hindus. Since this case meets many parameters of a religiously motivated attack against Hindus and their faith; therefore, it is being added to the hate crime database.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
