Deaf-mute Hindu girl offered promises to heal in afterlife if she converts to Christianity

Case ID : b507463 | Location : Kota, Rajasthan, India | Date of Incident : Mon, 18 November, 2024

Case ID : b507463

Kota, Rajasthan, India

18 November, 2024

Deaf-mute Hindu girl offered promises to heal in afterlife if she converts to Christianity

Predatory Proselytisation

Conversion/ attempts to convert by inducement

Case Summary

In Kota, Rajasthan, a 23-year-old mute and deaf Hindu woman, Surabhi Mehta, was targeted for religious conversion by members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses group. Her family, with assistance from Bhilwara police, recovered her while she was reportedly being taken from Indore to Delhi for conversion to Christianity. The family filed a complaint, stating that Surabhi had been brainwashed by the group, which promised she would regain the ability to hear and speak in her next life if she converted. According to the family, Surabhi had left for Indore on November 19 without informing them, to attend a conference organised by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Upon learning of her absence, they informed the police, who intercepted her on the Indore-Delhi Express at Bhilwara station. Two other girls travelling with her were detained and later released. The family said that Jehovah’s Witnesses specifically target individuals with disabilities for conversion. They noted that Surabhi had been drawn into the group through online classes and sign language and now avoided Hindu temples. Bajrang Dal leader Yogesh Renewal said that the group exploited Surabhi’s vulnerabilities to lure her into Christianity, citing promises of miraculous abilities in the afterlife. The incident comes in the context of controversy surrounding Jehovah’s Witnesses in India. In October 2023, a former member, Dominic Martin, admitted responsibility for a deadly explosion at a Jehovah’s Witnesses convention, revealing the group propagated anti-national teachings and divisive ideologies. Martin accused the organisation of instilling distrust among children against people from other communities and promoting seditious behaviour.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

The case has been added to the database under the prime category of- Predatory proselytisation. Under this, the sub-category chosen 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 exemplifies predatory proselytization, where Surabhi Mehta, a 23-year-old mute and deaf Hindu woman, was targeted by Jehovah’s Witnesses through inducements and manipulative promises. The group reportedly offered her the promise of miraculous restoration of her hearing and speech in her next life if she converted to Christianity. Such inducements exploit the vulnerabilities of individuals, particularly those with disabilities, using false assurances to coerce religious conversion. 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.