Hindu temple illegally seized and converted into Church amidst mass conversions through inducements and superstition

Case ID : 90a0bb1 | Location : Tapi, Gujarat, India | Date of Incident : Fri, 31 December, 2021
Case ID : 90a0bb1
location Tapi, Gujarat, India
date 31 December, 2021
Hindu temple illegally seized and converted into Church amidst mass conversions through inducements and superstition
Predatory Proselytisation
Conversion/ attempts to convert by inducement
Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination
Pattern of targeting Hindus
Conversion of minor
Attack on Hindu religious representations
Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple
Attack on Temples

Case Summary

In Gujarat’s Dang and Tapi districts, a Kuldevi temple belonging to tribal Hindus was unlawfully seized and transformed into a Christian church. This incident occurred against the backdrop of widespread Christian conversions of tribal Hindus through inducements and superstition. According to reports, the Hindu temple, located on a hill in Niana Bandharpada, Songadh Taluka, was once a revered site where tribal Hindus worshipped their Kuldevi (clan deity). However, as Christianity rapidly spread in the region, Hindu presence declined. Taking advantage of this shift, Christian missionaries erected a church on the site and barred Hindu tribals from entering the hill. The tribals were no longer permitted to worship their deity or even visit the temple. When a large group of Hindus attempted to pray there, they were forcibly expelled. Arvind Vasava, leader of Dev Birsa Sena, claimed that over 1,500 illegal churches had been constructed in Tapi in recent years. He pointed out that the rising Christian population in the area was not reflected in government records, suggesting large-scale conversions were occurring without official documentation. According to Vasava, Christian pastors from various states frequently hold public gatherings and prayer meetings to lure tribal Hindus into conversion through inducements and superstition. He questioned, "We are tribals—so why are Christian preachers and missionaries from different states coming here? If they claim there are Christians in this region, let them present official government records proving it." Vasava warned that converted tribals still identify as ‘Hindu tribals’ in government records while abandoning indigenous festivals, traditions, and customs. He lamented that their refusal to participate in tribal cultural events was eroding the community’s identity. "In the next two or three generations, our identity, culture, and existence will be completely erased," he warned. Vasava also accused MLA Mohan Konkani of supporting Christian missionaries. While Konkani is officially recognized as a tribal (ST) in government records, Vasava alleged that he had embraced Christianity and actively promoted conversions. However, in a report by OpIndia, Konkani denied the accusations, stating that he had never been involved in religious conversions. Defending his participation in Christian events, he argued, “As a public representative, I am obligated to attend all events. Anyone in this country has the right to organize prayer meetings.” Hindu saint Morari Bapu had also raised concerns about mass Christian conversions of tribals and their children through inducements. Several past incidents highlight an ongoing pattern of forced religious conversion in the region. In December 2022, a Hindu temple was removed in Zarali village, Songadh, Tapi, sparking controversy. While police intervention restored Hindu worship rights, Hindus continued to face intimidation from Christians. The same year, five members of a family in Tapi were arrested for misleading Hindu tribals into Christianity. In July 2023, Bible readings were conducted in a government school in Songadh, Tapi, during Guru Purnima, triggering protests from Hindu organisations.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

This case has been added to the tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime under two primary categories. The first is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Under this, the first sub-category is- Attack on Temples. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Given the central significance of Temples in Hindu Dharma, any attack against a Hindu Temple or its peripheral premises is an attack on the faith itself and is born out of animosity towards the faith, of which, the Temple is a central tenet. Any manner of attack against a Temple and/or its premises would therefore be considered a religiously motivated hate crime. The second sub-category relevant here is- Encroachment or illicit takeover of temple land/land near temple. In Hinduism, a temple is the abode of the Deity. The Deity in the Temple is consecrated, thereby, making it a real, breathing entity. Hindus believe that not just the Deity but the temple premises itself are sacred to Hindus since Hindus hold the faith that the entire Temple space is an amalgamation of the divine energy of the deity. Not only the Temple but the Temple premises in its entirety are considered sacred by Hindus. In several cases, the premises of the Temple and/or religious centre are illicitly taken over by institutions belonging to other faiths – like the Waqf board or the Church. Other times, the temple property, land or the property of religious centres are illicitly encroached by non-Hindu groups. Any illicit take over or encroachment is a crime an initio, however, when non-Hindu groups illicitly take over or encroach the sacred land of Hindus, it is an affront to the Hindu community and is therefore classified as a religiously motivated hate crime under this category. The second category under which this case has been placed is- Predatory proselytisation. Within 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. The second sub-category relevant under Predatory Proselytisation is- Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination. Within this, the tertiary categories selected are- Conversion of minors 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 carries multiple religious markers that indicate a deliberate and systematic targeting of Hindu identity. The first clear marker is the illegal seizure and conversion of a Hindu temple into a church, an act that goes beyond mere encroachment to signify the erasure of Hindu religious spaces. The temple, dedicated to the Kuldevi of the tribal Hindus, was not only taken over but also repurposed as a Christian church, barring Hindu worshippers from accessing their sacred site. The forceful eviction of Hindus from their own place of worship and the subsequent denial of their religious rights reflect an attempt to supplant indigenous Hindu traditions with an imposed Christian presence. This is not an isolated case but part of a larger pattern of religious aggression, where Hindu religious symbols and places of worship are dismantled or replaced to diminish the visibility of Hindu traditions in the region. The second religious marker is the mass conversions of tribal Hindus through inducements and superstition, exposing a predatory approach to proselytisation. Christian missionaries have reportedly exploited the socio-economic vulnerabilities of tribal communities, using financial incentives and social pressure to lure them away from their ancestral faith. This form of conversion is not organic but rather driven by external manipulation, coercion, and material inducements, targeting individuals who may not have fully understood the implications of abandoning their indigenous beliefs. Another significant marker is the subtle yet systematic grooming and indoctrination of tribal Hindus, including children. Reports suggest that Christian pastors have held mass prayer gatherings, spread anti-Hindu narratives, and projected Christianity as superior, pressuring Hindus to abandon their cultural roots. Even minors were not spared, with incidents such as Bible readings being conducted in government schools, introducing them to Christian theology at a formative age. This method of gradual but deliberate religious conditioning indicates an effort to reshape the spiritual identity of future generations, ensuring that conversion is not just immediate but permanent. The details of this case reveal that there were minors amongst the Hindu victims, indicating a lack of consent and a genuine change of conscience. It is a well-established fact that children are more susceptible to manipulation since they are still developing emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Their brains are not fully mature, making them more vulnerable to influence and less capable of critically evaluating information. Moreover, subtle manipulation tactics can be difficult to detect, especially when employed by trusted authority figures in positions of influence. This makes it challenging for parents to identify and address instances of religious manipulation. Consequently, cases involving religious manipulation of minors not only represent an infringement on an individual's religious freedom but also demonstrate a calculated strategy of targeting those who are less able to resist or understand the long-term implications of conversion, making it a significant case of religiously motivated hate crime. For this reason, this case has been added to the tracker. Adding to these concerns is the pattern of sustained targeting of Hindus in the region, reflected in the rapid and unchecked rise of illegal churches and conversion-focused events. The staggering number of over 1,500 unauthorized churches constructed in recent years highlights an organized effort to alter the religious demography of the area. Despite government records not reflecting these large-scale conversions, missionaries from various states continue to enter these tribal regions, deliberately infiltrating Hindu-majority spaces and altering the religious landscape through calculated efforts. These multiple religious markers, from the forcible takeover of a Hindu temple to predatory conversion tactics and systematic religious indoctrination, clearly demonstrate an organised effort to erase Hindu religious identity in the region. Given the deliberate targeting of Hindu spaces, communities, and traditions, this case warrants its inclusion in the Hinduphobia tracker as a religiously motivated hate crime.

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Case Status


Unknown

Case Status Background
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Perpetrators Details

Perpetrators


Christian Extremists

Perpetrators Range


Unknown

Perpetrators Gender


unknown

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