Hindus being converted to Christianity with the allurement of quack medical treatment and money, 5 arrested
Kaushambi District, Uttar Pradesh, India 
14 July, 2023
Case Summary
On July 15, 2023, Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi district witnessed the arrest of two individuals accused of converting Hindus to Christianity through deceptive medical practices. The arrests followed an FIR filed by Mahendra Tiwari on June 27, prompting the apprehension of three individuals earlier. The accused, including Ramchandra Pal, Gulbbo, Nanka, Panna, and Gulbadan, organised weekly gatherings known as the 'Changai Sabha,' where they purported to treat ailments by waving a broom. However, their true aim was to pressure vulnerable individuals into renouncing Hinduism for Christianity, luring them with promises of financial rewards. The police arrested three individuals earlier, sending them to jail. The arrests of Nanka and Panna signify ongoing progress in the case.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
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. In this particular case, Hindus were being lured by exploiting their vulnerabilities given that they were suffering from certain ailments. Further, they were also being induced to convert to Christianity, abandoning the Hindu faith, by the Christians offering them money. Both elements of exploiting financial distress and health vulnerabilities point towards the conversion which was not affected by the victim's own free will, however, it was a result of exploitation and inducement. Since the primary motive was to disenfranchise the victims from their professed religion, this case was one of a religiously motivated hate crime.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 1
- Female 0
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 5 to 10
Sources 
