Hindus targeted for conversion with promises of jobs, money, and cures for illnesses
Lakhimpur, Uttar Pradesh, India 
13 May, 2025
Case Summary
In Poya village, located in the Chandan Chauki region of Lakhimpur Khiri, Uttar Pradesh, four Christians were arrested for actively promoting religious conversion. The arrests were made following a complaint about inducement used to convert local Hindu residents to Christianity. According to police sources, the individuals were organising a Christian religious gathering at the residence of Sher Singh Rana in Poya village. During the gathering, members of the Tharu community were being lured with promises of jobs and money in exchange for abandoning their Hindu faith and embracing Christianity. Missionaries also promised to cure physical and mental illnesses if they converted to Christianity. This activity came to light after Bhupendra Singh, the regional organising secretary of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) from Gola, submitted a formal complaint to the police. Following a preliminary investigation, a police team raided the location and discovered the ongoing religious assembly. Four persons — Neki Ram, son of Babu Ram; Ram Kishore, son of Meghnath, both residents of Najhota; Sher Singh Rana, son of Badlu Ram from Poya; and Dharmveer Singh Rana, son of Phattu from Biriya Khera — were taken into custody at the site. Police also seized Christian religious literature and other materials intended for the purpose of conversion.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the primary category - Predatory proselytisation. Within it, the sub-category 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. This case is a clear example of a religiously motivated hate crime. In this incident, four Christian individuals tried to convert members of the Tharu community to Christianity by offering inducements such as employment, financial benefits, and false assurances of healing from illness. At the core of this crime is the strategic exploitation of economic vulnerability. The accused specifically targeted underprivileged Hindus, knowing that promises of jobs, money, and health cures could sway individuals struggling with hardship. This form of inducement, when used as a tool for religious conversion, is not only unethical but amounts to manipulation of faith through material enticement. Such behaviour reflects a systematic and deliberate attempt to sever individuals from their identity, undermining both personal faith and community integrity. Hence, this case is added to the hate crime database. Disclaimer: Tharu people are considered as Hindus because in the Indian census, most Tharus identify as Hindu, and are generally classified under Scheduled Tribes (ST) who follow Hinduism. They worship Hindu deities like Shiva, follow Hindu practices and celebrate Hindu festivals.
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Christian Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
