Hindus lured to convert to Christianity with promises of miraculous healing
Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India 
2 March, 2025
Case Summary
At the Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital, a Christian nun allegedly sought to convert Hindu patients to Christianity by claiming that "Jesus will cure your illness." According to media reports, on 1st March 2025, the nun visited the hospital, where she prayed for patients in the fracture treatment unit and attempted to persuade them to embrace Christianity. A Hindu organisation, Hindu Munnani, strongly condemned this act, criticising the nun’s efforts to convert Hindu patients. The organisation pointed out that while hospital authorities objected when Hindu groups attempted to propagate Hinduism, Christian proselytisation was seemingly permitted. They further alleged that Christian priests and nuns had been routinely entering the hospital to preach their faith and encourage conversions. Hindu Munnani issued a public statement denouncing the nun’s conversion attempt. On their official X handle, they stated, “Christian propaganda at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital… Hindu Munnani strongly condemns. A Christian conversion campaign is currently ongoing at the hospital. Some years ago, when a similar attempt took place, the administration failed to take action. When Hindu Munnani tried to promote Hinduism, the hospital authorities responded by putting up a notice stating that religious preaching would not be allowed within the premises. However, after a change in the hospital dean, this notice disappeared. Over the past few months, Christian priests, nuns, and religious workers have been regularly entering the hospital to preach to patients, telling them, 'Jesus will cure your illness. Pray to Jesus; we are praying for you.'" Hindu Munnani warned that such conversion activities could lead to religious tensions and conflicts within the hospital, potentially disrupting law and order. The organisation called upon the college and hospital dean, the Tamil Nadu government, and the police to take immediate action. They further stated, “On 1st March 2025, at 6 pm, a Christian nun conducted prayers for conversion in the fracture treatment unit. This kind of religious propaganda within the hospital, promoting the notion that Jesus alone can heal patients, not only erodes trust in the medical profession and doctors but also serves as a means to exploit and convert poor, vulnerable Hindus seeking treatment. Furthermore, it risks inciting religious discord within the hospital and creating a law and order crisis. If the ongoing Christian conversion campaign at Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital is not stopped immediately, Hindu Munnani will enter the hospital, visit every ward, and conduct Hindu prayers for the swift recovery of patients. We will apply Vibhuti and Kumkum, sing devotional songs, and pray for the well-being of those undergoing treatment. Hindu Munnani urges the Tamil Nadu government and Tirunelveli city police to take swift action against the Dean of the Medical College, the resident doctor, and hospital security personnel who have allowed Tirunelveli Government Medical College Hospital to become a hub for religious propaganda. Immediate steps must be taken to put an end to this conversion campaign and safeguard patients from religious conflicts and potential law and order disturbances.”
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Predatory Proselytisation and under this, the sub-category chosen 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. In this case, the Christian nun was attempting to exploit a specific vulnerability of the victims who were, in all likelihood, economically backward. The missionary exploited the poor victims by promising them cures for their ailments - cures that they either could not afford or for incurable diseases. 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
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
Sources 
