Poor Hindu families pressured to convert to Christianity under false promises of better educational opportunities for their children
Chapra, Bihar, India 
7 April, 2025
Case Summary
In Ward No. 10 of Rivilganj Nagar Panchayat, Chhapra, Bihar, a case has emerged involving religious conversion activities disguised as a school construction project. Residents stated that what was initially presented as an educational initiative later turned out to be linked to church construction and proselytisation efforts. Jyoti Prakash, a man from Jehanabad, purchased land in the locality and informed the residents that a school would be built there. The area, largely inhabited by daily wage earners, welcomed the initiative, anticipating educational benefits for their children. However, concerns were raised when a foundation stone for a church was placed at the site during construction. Further, the locals stated that the Christian missionaries attempted to convert economically vulnerable families by offering aid, such as financial help for marriages and the upkeep of their children. Residents reported being told about the perceived shortcomings of Hindu practices and were encouraged to adopt Christian beliefs. Women were advised not to wear sindoor or observe Chhath Puja—both significant cultural and religious practices. The matter came to light when Ramnath Manjhi, a 55-year-old local resident, raised objections. As community awareness increased, locals organised a protest and submitted a formal complaint at the Rivilganj police station. According to Manjhi, residents had previously refrained from speaking out due to uncertainty and fear, but are now united in opposing what they view as concealed efforts at religious conversion under the pretext of social development.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category of- Predatory proselytisation. Under this, the first sub-category selected is- Conversion/attempts to convert by inducements. 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 here is- Proselytisation by brainwashing, manipulation or subtle indoctrination. Within this, the tertiary category selected is- 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. The third sub-category selected here is- Attempting to convert/converting by denigrating Hinduism. In several cases, Hindus are converted or an attempt is made to convert Hindus by denigrating their faith, Hinduism. In such cases, the Hindus associate with the non-Hindu perpetrators often by choice and then, the attempt to convert them by insulting their faith, showing the faith down etc begins. An example of this would be a non-Hindu gathering where the Hindus are attending the gathering of their own free will. However, once they attend the gathering, there is an explicit attempt to convert them by abusing their faith and hailing the faith of the perpetrator. The denigration of the Hindu faith is often based on misrepresentation of the Hindu faith, its doctrine and scriptures and insult to espoused traditions if not blatant lies about Hindu beliefs and ways. Such conversions or attempts at conversions are driven by animosity towards the Hindu faith and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. This case qualifies as a hate crime as it involved targeted attempts to convert economically vulnerable Hindus through inducements. The promise of a school in a slum area populated largely by daily wage labourers was a deceptive entry point. Once trust was gained, subtle coercion began in the form of material incentives and emotional manipulation, with the ultimate aim of drawing people away from their native faith. The targeting of Hindu families—under the guise of aid—clearly exploited their financial hardships and used this as leverage to induce religious conversion. The central intent was not humanitarian but to systematically weaken the community's connection to their religious identity, making the victims' Hindu faith the direct target of the offence. Additionally, residents were discouraged from observing deeply rooted traditions such as applying sindoor and participating in Chhath Puja—an open attempt to delegitimise their religious customs. They were told about the perceived shortcomings of Hindu practices and were encouraged to adopt Christian beliefs. The imposition of another faith’s norms, under the pretext of superior moral or social value, aimed to replace their existing beliefs through continual indoctrination. This manipulation, combined with the socio-economic and trust-based influence, marks a clear pattern of religious targeting. It constitutes a hate crime because the religious identity of the Hindu victims was not only the basis of selection but also the principal focus of erasure. Further, insulting Hinduism in attempts to brainwash Hindus against their religion itself stems from the animosity against the Hindu faith, which is why this case qualifies as a hate crime against Hindus and has been documented here.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
