Hindu family threatened and coerced to convert, son forced to abandon faith under pressure
Manoharpur, Jharkhand, India 
12 April, 2025
Case Summary
In the Mahato Tola area of Manoharpur block, West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, a Hindu family was being threatened and pressured to convert their religion forcibly. The perpetrators exerted severe psychological pressure and issued open threats, warning the family of dire consequences if they did not convert. The family clearly stated that they wish to remain connected to the faith and traditions of their ancestors. However, certain radical and self-serving elements were trying to mislead, intimidate, and coerce them into converting. The situation became so grave that one of the family’s sons had already fallen into the trap of these conspirators and changed his religion. The matter reached the state police headquarters, prompting immediate action. The Superintendent of Police of Chaibasa received orders to initiate an investigation. A detailed report of the incident was prepared, and efforts were underway to uncover the individuals and networks behind the conspiracy.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category- Predatory Proselytisation. The sub-category relevant in this case is- Harassment, threats, coercion for conversion. Harassment covers a wide range of behaviours of an offensive nature. It is commonly understood as behaviour that demeans, humiliates, and intimidates a person, including threats and coercion. Harassment and threats, in this case, find their root on discriminatory grounds which has the effect of nullifying a person’s rights or infringing upon his freedom to exercise his right specifically owing to the victim’s religious identity. Verbal and physical threats and psychological or physical harassment are often used against Hindu victims because they choose to practice their professed religion. Religious harassment also includes forced and involuntary conversions by harassment, threats or coercion. Coercion includes intimidatory tactics like force-feeding a Hindu victim beef to convert to another religion, forceful circumcision etc. In several cases documented, non-Hindu perpetrators or those who harbour specific animosity towards Hinduism, harass victims simply based on their religious identity. Such cases often also include harassment to ensure the Hindu victim abandons his/her professed religion and adopts the religion of the perpetrator. Such cases where Hindu victims are harassed to convert to the perpetrator’s religion are rooted in animosity towards the victim’s religious identity and are therefore documented as religiously motivated hate crimes. The case from Mahato Tola in Jharkhand represents a clear instance of predatory proselytisation driven by religious hostility. The family was subjected to sustained mental harassment and repeated threats intended to compel them to abandon their ancestral Hindu faith. This pressure went beyond personal or ideological disagreement and took the form of coercion that directly targeted the family’s religious identity. The use of fear and intimidation, with explicit warnings of consequences should they refuse to convert, constitutes an attempt to infringe upon their fundamental right to practice their religion freely and without interference. This incident aligns with the broader pattern of religiously motivated hate crimes where Hindus are harassed specifically to renounce their faith and embrace another. The psychological manipulation and hostile environment created for this family were intended to isolate and weaken their resolve, evident in the tragic fact that one son gave in and converted. The case demonstrates how religious animosity towards Hindu beliefs can manifest in aggressive proselytisation efforts, undermining religious freedom through threats and coercion. Such targeting of a family based solely on their Hindu identity makes this a clear case of hate crime.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Unknown
Perpetrators Range
Unknown
Perpetrators Gender
unknown
Sources 
