Tribal Hindu villagers targeted for conversion under pretext of free medical treatment by Christian youth
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India 
15 September, 2025
Case Summary
In the Mojra village of Udaipur district, Rajasthan, tribal Hindu villagers were lured for religious conversion under the pretext of free medical treatment by a Christian youth. The incident came to light when Gogunda MLA Pratap Lal Gameti, while on a regional tour, received information that several villagers were being admitted to a house near the church where illegal activities were taking place. Upon reaching the spot, the MLA found several patients undergoing treatment in the house. It was revealed that under the guise of treatment, people were being misled and forced to convert to Christianity. Subsequently, a police team reached the site, along with a team of doctors from Bekariya Hospital. It was revealed that the treatment was being provided without any medical permission or qualifications, putting patients' lives in jeopardy. All the patients were examined and taken to the hospital for proper care. During the raid, the Christian youth conducting treatment fled from the scene. Police seized a large quantity of medicines, medical supplies, and materials promoting Christian religious conversion. The villagers expressed shock and concern that the tribal Hindu community was being lured into conversion through the promise of free treatment and other inducements. MLA Pratap Lal Gameti stated that the tribals would not be deceived under any circumstances and assured that strict action would be taken against those involved. A case was registered by the police, and a search operation was underway to apprehend the absconding youth.
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. The other sub-category relevant here is - Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination, with the tertiary category being - 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 has been added to the tracker because tribal Hindu villagers were lured for religious conversion under the pretext of free medical treatment and other inducements by the Christian accused. Offering inducements or making false healing promises, especially to vulnerable tribal Hindus in need of medical assistance, was not an act of kindness or charity. Instead, it was a calculated effort to exploit them because of their religion. By promising free treatment and other benefits in exchange for conversion, the Christian youth effectively coerced individuals who were desperate for help, undermining their agency and dignity. This form of coercion strips people of their agency and dignity and results in coerced conversions. These are not random or isolated incidents, but cases deeply rooted in religious animosity towards Hindu victims. In this case, Christian religious material promoting conversion was also seized from the house, demonstrating that religious texts were used to mislead and brainwash Hindu victims. Using the scriptures or literature of one faith to deliberately target and manipulate members of another, with the clear intention of religious conversion, represents a direct attack on the Hindu faith. Such actions are designed to violate and undermine the beliefs of Hindu victims and are clear indicators of religious hostility towards Hindus and their religious identity. When Christian religious material is used to exploit trust, sow doubt, and misrepresent the beliefs of Hindus to coerce conversion, particularly in a systematic manner, it constitutes a religiously motivated offence. These actions further demonstrate that this was not an isolated incident of evangelism, but part of a broader, organised effort to further religious conversions. When evangelists and Christian missionaries focus their efforts on converting individuals of a particular faith, in this instance Hindus, it reveals a fundamental disregard for that community and its beliefs. Conversion, especially when not based on sincere personal conviction but rather on external persuasion or pressure, is not about sharing a religion; it is an attempt to undermine the values, traditions, and identity of the Hindu community. 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. In such cases, Christian missionary groups often target and brainwash socially and economically vulnerable Hindus to further their agenda of religious conversions. Such acts were deeply rooted in religious animosity towards Hindu victims, and thus, this case was added to the tracker.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
