Hindu villagers lured to convert to Christianity with inducements in Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh
Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
28 October, 2025
Case Summary
Hindu villagers were being lured to convert to Christianity with inducements at a gathering held in Phulpur, Uttar Pradesh; a complaint was registered against three accused. The information reached the members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu organisation, that in Atraura village, a meeting was being organised to promote religious conversion with inducements. On receiving this information, VHP leader Shantanu Tiwaria, along with activists from VHP, reached the site and protested against the meeting. The organisers started a dispute over resistance. The VHP leader lodged a written complaint in the police station against Shivani, Anita and her brother Abhishek of the said village, under various sections of the law, and a case has now been registered.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Predatory proselytisation. 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 villagers in Atraura village were lured and offered inducements for religious conversion by the Christian group. 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, in this instance, for documentation purposes, we have recorded the date based on when the media report was published - 29 October 2025.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
