Hindu women lured to convert to Christianity with monetary inducements in Basti, Uttar Pradesh
Basti, Uttar Pradesh, India 
27 October, 2025
Case Summary
A case of religious conversion had emerged in the Parsharampur area of Basti district, where a few individuals were targeting Hindu women and luring them to convert to Christianity with monetary inducements. Ramanand, a resident of Tirukha village under Parsharampur police station, had submitted a written complaint to the authorities. He stated that certain individuals were gathering Hindu women and trying to convert them by offering money. He added that these acts were an insult to the Hindu faith, which had caused anger among the local Hindu community. After reviewing the complaint, the Parsharampur police registered a case against one Ramdayal Sharma under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, along with other relevant legal sections. Station in-charge Bhanu Pratap Singh said that during the inquiry, it was found that the accused, Ramdayal Sharma, was a resident of Auratonda village under Chhapia police station in Gonda district. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended him on 28 October 2025, around 10 a.m., near a cowshed located in Bangawa Khas.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Predatory proselytisation. Under this, the sub-category 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 has been added to the tracker because Hindu women in Parasrampur village were lured and offered money for conversion to Christianity. Firstly, offering such inducements or making false promises, especially when directed at vulnerable and economically weaker individuals, is not an act of kindness or charity. It is a calculated effort to exploit their vulnerability because of their religious identity. By providing inducements in exchange for conversion, the accused was effectively blackmailing those who might have been desperate for assistance or hope. Such instances are seen in many cases where members of Christian missionary groups target socially and economically vulnerable Hindus to further their agenda of religious conversions. This form of coercion strips people of their agency and dignity and results in coerced conversions. 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. These are not random or isolated incidents, but 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: The Hinduphobia Tracker records incidents based on when an event occurred or when the victim's ordeal began, rather than when it was reported by the media. It is important to clarify that none of the media sources covering this case has specified the exact date when the conversion activities began. Therefore, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the accused was arretsed: 28 October 2025.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
