Hindu residents targeted in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, as outsiders attempt coercive conversion to Christianity
Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India 
1 October, 2025
Case Summary
An attempt to forcibly convert Hindus to Christianity sparked a commotion in Prayag Colony on Sihora Road, Mahavan area, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, on the afternoon of 2 October 2025. The incident lasted for about an hour and has since gone viral on social media. According to reports, outsiders had arrived in the colony to propagate Christianity. They gathered residents in a room and encouraged them to convert. When local youth became aware of the activities, they arrived at the spot and began recording a video of the incident. The presence of cameras reportedly agitated the preachers, who included both men and women. In the recording, the preacher is heard saying, “He is my guru.” Locals stated that the outsiders were attempting to lure the poor into conversion, an act that they claim hurt the faith and sentiments of the Hindu community. The agitated residents demanded strict action from the authorities. SP City Rajiv Singh stated that no formal complaint had been received so far, but if the matter was confirmed, it would be investigated based on the video evidence.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category in this case is: Predatory Proselytisation. The subcategory under this 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 included in the Hinduphobia Tracker because it represents a clear instance of predatory proselytisation targeting the Hindu community, exploiting socio-economic vulnerabilities to coerce a change of faith. The incident in Prayag Colony, Mathura, involved outsiders entering a predominantly Hindu neighbourhood and attempting to induce residents to convert to Christianity. By gathering locals in a room and encouraging them to abandon their faith, the perpetrators directly interfered with the religious identity and spiritual autonomy of the Hindu community. The Hindu residents, particularly youth who discovered the activities, recognised the attempt as a deliberate exploitation of their community’s faith and acted to document the event, highlighting the predatory nature of the proselytisation. Locals stated that the outsiders were using inducements and subtle coercion to lure economically vulnerable members of the community into conversion, which constitutes a violation of both personal dignity and religious rights. Such exploitation of financial or social vulnerability amplifies the harm, as it targets individuals who may feel pressured to comply due to economic insecurity, making the act both morally reprehensible and socially coercive. This case qualifies as a hate crime against Hindus because the motivating factor behind the proselytisation is the victim’s Hindu identity. The perpetrators’ intent was not merely to spread religious teachings but to actively disenfranchise individuals from their religion, undermining the continuity of the Hindu community and exploiting faith as a tool for conversion. The focus on Hindu residents as targets demonstrates the selective nature of the attack, distinguishing it from generic religious outreach and classifying it as a form of religiously motivated persecution. The broader implications are significant. Predatory proselytisation represents an intrusion into the private and communal life of Hindu communities, weakening social cohesion and generating fear and distrust. By coercing vulnerable members of society to abandon their faith, such acts destabilise the cultural and spiritual fabric of the Hindu population. The inclusion of this case in the tracker reflects both the systematic targeting of Hindus for conversion through inducement and the need to document violations where religious identity is deliberately exploited. It underscores the principle that attacks on faith, particularly when combined with economic or social coercion, constitute hate crimes and require vigilance and accountability to safeguard the rights and dignity of Hindu communities.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
both
Sources 
