Poor Hindu children targeted for Christian conversion; brainwashed with Christian texts, Hindu gods denigrated, and their idols desecrated
Alwar, Rajasthan, India 
2 September, 2025
Case Summary
In Alwar, Rajasthan, a group of nearly 52 Hindu children living in a Christian hostel were targeted for conversion. They were indoctrinated with Christian religious texts and threatened with hellfire and death. Additionally, even Hindu gods were denigrated and their idols were desecrated by the Christian perpetrators. According to media reports, the incident came to light when police raided a Christian missionary hostel in Syed Colony under the MIA police station, following charges of conversions raised by Hindu organisations. On seeing the police, several Hindu children attempted to escape by jumping over the hostel wall. The policemen reassured the frightened children for a long time, urging them to climb down and not be afraid. Following this, the children explained that they were told they would go to hell if they believed in Hindu gods and goddesses. The difference between Hindu idols and the Christian cross was demonstrated by dipping them in water. Reports confirmed that economically weaker Hindu children had been kept in the hostel and, in the name of education, were targeted for religious conversion. One of the Hindu children stated, "The Christian father in the hostel said that if you believe in Hindu Gods, you will go to hell. You will be burned in fire. You must read only the Bible. Hindus have false gods. We reach heaven by praying to Jesus Christ and go to hell by taking the name of Hindu gods and goddesses. The real God is Jesus Christ." He added, "The father fills a bucket with water and puts the idols of gods and goddesses into it. If the idol sinks, he says that your God has drowned himself, so how will he save you?" According to the police, Pastor Amrit from Ahmedabad and Sonu Raisikh from Ramgarh (Alwar) were arrested on the spot. Religious texts and books related to Christianity were also seized. These books were used to brainwash and convert the children. Around 52 children, aged between 6 and 17 years, lived in the hostel, coming from different parts of Alwar as well as from Hanumangarh and Delhi, while studying in various schools. The children said they had to pay ₹3,000 per year, while the organisation bore the full cost of their food, education, and accommodation. Martha, the wife of the accused Amrit, stated that the hostel was run by Naya Jeevan Sanstha from Tamil Nadu. She added that her husband had been transferred there only two months earlier by the organisation’s senior leadership.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category- Predatory Proselytisation. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Proselytisation by grooming, brainwashing, manipulation, or subtle indoctrination. The tertiary categories selected are - Conversion of Minor and 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 other subcategory 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. The other subcategory selected 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. The other primary category selected is- Attack on Hindu religious representations. Within this, the subcategory selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbols. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. In this case, firstly, it's important to highlight that all victims are Minor Hindu children. This means the element of consent and genuine change of conscience was missing ab initio. Minors, due to their young age and lack of maturity, are particularly vulnerable to manipulation and coercion. They may not have the ability to fully understand the implications of converting to another religion, and the Christian perpetrators purposely targeted and exploited this vulnerability of the Hindu victims. Since this case exemplifies the use of coercion and manipulation to achieve religious conversion, it is a blatant act of religious hate, making it a religiously motivated crime. This case was religiously motivated because it targeted a specific community—Hindu children—with the explicit intention of erasing their faith and imposing the Christian religion upon them. The Hindu children were repeatedly told that if they worshipped Hindu gods and goddesses, they would burn in hell. They were taught that Jesus Christ was the only true God and that salvation was possible only through him. This systematic psychological manipulation was aimed at stripping the children of their inherited Hindu faith and replacing it with Christian belief. The children were threatened with eternal punishment, including hellfire and burning, should they continue to practise their Hindu religion. By instilling fear of divine retribution, the Christian perpetrators sought to coerce compliance, which is a hallmark of religiously motivated crime rather than voluntary change in belief. Even Hindu idols were used in demonstrations where they were submerged in water until they sank, while a wooden cross was shown floating. This act was designed to portray Hindu gods as powerless and false, while Christianity was projected as superior. Such deliberate brainwashing of the Hindu victims was done with the clear intent to enforce Christianity on them. Therefore, this is an instance motivated by religious animosity towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. The hostel housed children from poor Hindu families, aged 6 to 17, many of whom came from districts like Alwar, Hanumangarh and even Delhi. They paid a nominal fee, while food, education, and accommodation costs were borne by the organisation. This arrangement was not charity: it exploited the children’s economic vulnerability, using education and shelter as inducements for religious conversion. In such cases, inducements of this kind are not given due to kindness; rather, they are used as tools to coerce economically vulnerable Hindus to adopt Christianity. Christian religious literature was recovered from the hostel during the police raid. These texts were not meant for general moral teaching but were specifically used to replace the children’s Hindu traditions with Christian doctrine. This use of one religion’s literature to systematically erode another community’s faith further reinforced the religious motivation of the crime. Such actions are done to sow doubts, create confusion and indoctrinate Hindu victims with the Christian faith, resulting in conversion to Christianity. This showcases the religiously motivated nature of the crime. Beyond the threats of hell, Hindu gods were openly mocked as false. For Hindus, their deities are highly revered, and their worship is an integral part of the Hindu faith and identity. The use of derogatory language against them was intended to humiliate the children, attack their beliefs, and break their connection to their religion in order to force conversion to Christianity. This revealed a deep-seated sense of hostility towards Hinduism itself. Furthermore, the idols of Hindu deities were desecrated. Idols of Hindu deities were placed in water alongside a wooden cross; while the wooden cross floated, the idols sank. This was presented to the children as proof that their Hindu gods were powerless. Such an act of desecration against sacred symbols that hold immense importance in Hindu life showcased not only a calculated method of brainwashing, but also the overtly religiously motivated desecration of sacred Hindu symbols. This was not an isolated or accidental incident involving one or two children. Nearly 52 Hindu children were put through the same organised process, demonstrating a systematic attempt to alter their Hindu faith and religious identity of the victims. The large-scale, uniform targeting and deliberate strategy point clearly to a coordinated and religiously motivated effort, rooted in contempt for Hinduism and disdain for the Hindu community as a whole. Given that this case fulfils multiple parameters of a religiously motivated crime, it is being recorded in the hate crime database.
Victim Details
Total Victim
52
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 52
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 52
Age Group
- Minor 52
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
