Christian evangelists converting poor locals convert to Christianity by falsely claiming miraculous healings and offering material incentives
Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
17 November, 2024
Case Summary
In Shakkapur village, Uttar Pradesh, six individuals were arrested for allegedly conducting illegal religious conversions. Acting on a complaint from a local resident, police uncovered an organized attempt to lure people into converting to Christianity through promises of miraculous healing and material incentives. The accused were leading Bible study sessions and persuading attendees to renounce their faith in exchange for these claims. Authorities confiscated several Bibles and other religious literature used for proselytization during the operation. The arrested individuals were identified as Premchand, Anil Kumar, Ram Yogesh Bind, Ram Awadh, Ritesh Kumar, and Babban Ram, who were associated with a Christian institution. They were charged under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act and subsequently sent to jail. Local residents expressed outrage, accusing the group of exploiting vulnerable individuals by taking advantage of their socio-economic insecurities and health concerns. Many said that the accused preyed on those struggling with illnesses, claiming that conversion to Christianity would lead to miraculous cures.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- 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. Here, some Christian evangelists attempted to convert Hindus through inducements, such as promises of miraculous healing and material incentives. The use of inducements to convert individuals is indeed a common tactic in efforts to influence or manipulate vulnerable individuals into changing their faith. This approach often targets economically disadvantaged groups, offering material benefits such as food, money, or livestock in exchange for conversion. It creates a form of dependency that can alienate individuals from their original faith, as they may feel compelled to convert not out of genuine belief but due to immediate needs or financial pressures. Here too, the Christian evangelists adopted a similar tactic of exploiting the vulnerability of the Hindus to convert them to Christianity. Since exploiting vulnerabilities for the explicit purpose of conversion is purely based on animosity towards the victim's faith, this case has been categorised as a religiously motivated hate crime.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 5 to 10
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
