A large-scale conversion racket has been uncovered in Ayodhya, where individuals linked to Christian missionaries were forcing locals to convert to Christianity. Reports suggest that pastors and their associates used violence against those who resisted the conversion attempts. The police detained 40 people for questioning in connection with the incident. The illegal activity, which involved men, women, and children, was taking place during a prayer meeting in a private room. Authorities seized a substantial amount of religious books and materials from the location. Following a victim’s complaint, a case has been registered, and the Ayodhya police have formally charged three individuals involved in the incident.
As per the reports, the accused lured economically vulnerable people to the prayer gatherings, offering them relief from poverty. They assured attendees that by reading the Bible and praying to Jesus, their hardships would be solved.
For several days, local residents had raised concerns over the network’s activities. On September 29, the police arrived at a house near Khajurahat Square on the Prayagraj highway, where the illegal conversions were taking place. Three individuals were taken into custody during the raid. All attendees of the prayer meeting, including women and children, were brought to the police station for questioning.
A First Information Report (FIR No. 362/2024) was lodged at the Bikaipur Police Station on September 30, following a complaint by Ram Saran Tiwari. In his statement, Tiwari named three individuals as the accused: Motilal Paswan, Dilip Kumar, and Meera, wife of Motilal.
In his complaint, Tiwari, a resident of Bikaipur, had filed the initial complaint. Sharing his account, he said, “I was sitting at a tea shop near Khajurahat Square discussing my illness and problems with others. At around 3 PM, Motiram Paswan arrived and overheard our conversation. He then told me to join him at a prayer meeting for Jesus, assuring me that all my problems would be solved. Despite our refusal, Motilal insisted, and we both went with him to the house where the prayer meeting was being held. There, inside the room, we found Motilal’s wife Meera Kumari and their friend Dilip Kumar.”
According to Tiwari, the prayer meeting took an aggressive tone against Hindu beliefs. “The people conducting the prayer meeting were inciting the 20-25 men, women, and children present against Hindu deities, making offensive remarks. They were enticing everyone with money, handing Bibles to everyone, and forcing them to take an oath to convert to Christianity. These individuals go to Dalit settlements and lure people with promises of wealth,” he said.
Tiwari also added that the missionaries exploited people’s superstitions to push illegal conversions. “They talked about spirits and exorcisms during the meeting. They tried to bribe me with money and pressured me to convert. When my friend and I refused, they started beating me. We somehow managed to escape,” he said, detailing the lengths to which the missionaries went to force conversions.
Those in attendance at the prayer meetings were usually from impoverished backgrounds and had low levels of education. Tiwari mentioned how missionaries went door to door, asking people about their problems and offering them money. “They tell people that Christian countries are wealthy and that they are here to help us. They assure people that by joining them, all their problems will be solved,” said Tiwari.
The missionaries would also show videos of Christian missionary activities on TV screens to reinforce their message.
During these prayer meetings, the accused assured people that they were not being forced to convert. They claimed that the only requirement was to change the way they worship. “They told us that there was no need to change our names, only the way we pray,” Tiwari said, pointing out the deceptive tactics used by the missionaries.
Ram Jiyavan, the village head from Ratanpur Tendua and a member of the MP Hindu Parishad, expressed concern over the activities of the missionaries. “The Christian missionaries attract poor people in this area by offering them various temptations to convert. A complaint is being filed in this regard,” Jiyavan stated.
Superintendent of Police Balwant Chaudhary confirmed the raid and arrests. “A large number of religious books were recovered from the prayer meeting. The investigation is ongoing. We have arrested three missionaries, including a husband and wife. Some objectionable items were also found at the prayer meeting. Further action is being taken,” Chaudhary said.
The police have also taken all individuals who attended the prayer meeting, including the women, to the station for questioning. Based on the complaint, all three accused have been booked under section 131 of the BNS with sections 3/5 of the Uttar Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act.
थाना बीकापुर #ayodhyapolice द्वारा थाना क्षेत्रान्तर्गत अवैध धर्मान्तरण कराने वाले गिरोह का किया गया पर्दाफाश। लोगो को इकट्ठाकर उन्हें बरगलाकर अवैध धर्मान्तरण कराने वाले गैंग के 03 नफर अभियुक्त को किया गया गिरफ्तार। #UPPolice pic.twitter.com/Fb12OkTHLY
— AYODHYA POLICE (@ayodhya_police) September 30, 2024
Prominent spiritual leaders have spoken out against the conversions. Commenting on the issue, spiritual speaker Chandrashu Maharaj said, “Ayodhya is being targeted by non-believers. Christian missionaries and some secular individuals involved in Muslim appeasement politics are attempting to destroy the country’s Sanatan culture. We want the Yogi government to take cognisance of this conversion activity and take strict action against them. The community of saints and monks strongly condemns this act.”
Upon learning about the incident, leaders from various Hindu organisations arrived at the police station to express their anger. Vishwa Hindu Parishad district president Uday Bhan Upadhyay, Shri Ram Seva state president Vinod Singh, and other prominent leaders, including Rajan Singh and Santosh Dubey, criticised the police for their perceived inaction, claiming that it allowed these conversion activities to occur.
Earlier, Organiser had exposed the widespread issue of missionary conversions in Uttar Pradesh’s Kushinagar district, where we documented multiple cases following a similar pattern.
But what has happened in Ayodhya is not just another instance of routine missionary activity, which often surfaces in various cities, where pastors entice people with promises of medicine, money, jobs, education, and other incentives to convert. What makes this case particularly alarming is its location—Ayodhya, the heart of Hindu pilgrimage. The rise in conversion activities and the emergence of churches in such a sacred city raise serious concerns. Given the gravity of this situation, a thorough investigation is urgently needed. The extensive evidence and documents linked to this case make it even more worrisome.
