Hindus targeted for forced religious conversion under pretext of attending prayer meeting in Uttar Pradesh
Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India 
20 September, 2025
Case Summary
In Kutki village, Siddharthnagar, Uttar Pradesh, Hindus were targeted for forced religious conversion under the guise of attending a prayer meeting. According to media reports, this incident came to light when Bajrang Dal activists created a disturbance on 21st September 2025, stating that forced religious conversions were taking place under the pretext of a religious gathering. Police attended the scene, restored order, and instructed all parties to comply with the law. The accused had arranged prayers according to their faith every Sunday in Kutki village. Upon learning of these gatherings, Bajrang Dal activists arrived and protested, stating that forced conversions were being conducted under the cover of a prayer meeting. On receiving information about this incident, the police responded to the situation, escorted individuals from both sides, and restored calm. Station Officer Jayprakash Pandey stated that the police acted promptly to diffuse the situation. All parties were instructed to adhere to the law at all times.
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 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. This incident is a clear example of a hate crime against Hindus, as the accused deliberately singled out members of the Hindu community for forced religious conversion in Kutki village. Choosing Hindus solely on the basis of their faith exposed the perpetrators’ hostility and contempt towards Hindu identity. Targeting a specific community with such intensity disregards the dignity, values, and lived traditions of Hindus—it is not simply the expression of an alternative belief, but an organised attempt to undermine their sense of belonging and identity. Such actions are rooted in hostility towards the Hindu faith and its followers, making it a religiously motivated crime. The accused manipulated Hindus under the pretext of inviting them to prayer meetings, which are widely regarded as places for spiritual reflection and support. Instead of fostering an atmosphere for genuine religious exchange, they used this trusted setting to exert pressure and coerce Hindus into conversion. Taking advantage of a space intended to nurture faith and community, and instead weaponising it against Hindu attendees, showed not only calculated manipulation but clear religious animosity. Such behaviour revealed intent to erode trust and exploit the vulnerability of the Hindu victims. These forced conversions were not isolated events. The accused arranged prayer gatherings every Sunday, creating a pattern of regular, premeditated targeting of Hindus in Kutki village. This was not an accident, but a systematic and coordinated campaign against a single community, illustrating a sustained and well-organised display of religious hostility—qualifying these acts as hate crimes. In this case, even though the perpetrators remain unknown, their actions were rooted in animosity towards Hinduism and the Hindu community. Accordingly, this case has been added to the hate crime database of the Hinduphobia Tracker.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
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