A major controversy has erupted in the Chhota Bharwara area of Gomti Nagar Extension, Lucknow, following allegations of Christian conversion activities being conducted at a local residence. The incident has triggered widespread protests from the local Hindu community, who claim that a house in the neighbourhood is being used for conversion efforts under the guise of Sunday prayer meetings.
According to local residents, Christian missionaries at the said house have allegedly been coercing Hindu families to either convert to Christianity or sell their homes and leave the area. The allegations have intensified in recent months, with locals asserting that conversion attempts have been ongoing for years despite repeated warnings.
On Sunday, February 9, tensions peaked when a large gathering was reported at the disputed house. Residents, suspecting that conversion activities were underway, gathered in protest. The situation quickly escalated, prompting a swift response from law enforcement. A team from Gomti Nagar Extension police station, led by Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP) East Pankaj Kumar Singh, arrived at the scene along with officers from Gomti Nagar police station.
The police detained 50 individuals from the premises and took them to the police station for questioning. However, after recording their names and addresses, they were released. According to the police, the detained individuals claimed they had merely gathered for a prayer meeting. While no concrete evidence of conversion was found at the scene, authorities issued a warning that any attempt to disrupt communal harmony would result in legal action.
Meanwhile, Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order amid heightened tensions.
The controversy escalated following a formal complaint by Ritesh Mishra, a resident of Bharwara Estate Colony. Mishra alleged that a church had been constructed within the neighbourhood, where large gatherings took place every Sunday for prayer meetings that allegedly involved religious conversions.
According to locals, the gatherings, which started with a few individuals, have significantly increased over the past six months, raising concerns.
Several residents, including Yogesh Mishra, Mohit, and Bharat Bhushan, claimed that Christian missionaries had been offering financial incentives, including jobs and large sums of money, to encourage conversions. Those who refused, they alleged, were pressured to sell their homes at inflated prices and relocate.
Dhananjay Kumar Pandey, another resident, described the disputed house as resembling a church but without explicit religious symbols. He alleged that the gates and walls were designed to prevent outsiders from seeing inside. Manoj Sharma, another local, accused the Christian group of exploiting vulnerable individuals by offering monetary benefits and properties in exchange for conversion. He further stated that the missionaries threatened those who resisted conversion efforts.
Despite the serious allegations, police officials have not registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case so far. Addressing the situation, DCP East Shashank Singh stated, “At 10 AM, we received information about alleged religious conversions taking place in a prayer meeting at a house in Chhota Bharwara. Our team investigated the matter but found no evidence of forced conversion. The individuals brought to the police station were warned that any disturbance to the peace would not be tolerated. The situation is currently under control, and PAC deployment has been ensured as a precautionary measure. Further action will be taken based on the complaint.”
However, local residents remain dissatisfied with the police response, accusing them of downplaying the issue. Some community members claim that authorities are deliberately hushing up the matter instead of taking decisive action against the alleged conversion activities.
Expressing strong dissatisfaction, Hindu Samaj leader Angad Shukla accused the police of inaction despite multiple complaints. “For years, illegal Christian conversion activities have been taking place in our colony, yet no substantial action has been taken. Even after the uproar on Sunday, the police merely dispersed the crowd and avoided filing a case,” he said.
Shukla further announced that, in response to the alleged conversions, members of the Hindu Samaj and local Hindus would conduct weekly Sundarkand recitations in the Bharwara Estate Colony every Sunday. He also met with DCP Shashank Singh, who assured him of further investigations. Shukla has demanded that the authorities scrutinize the church’s registration, as well as its water and electricity bills, to determine the legality of its operations.
“If the police do not take concrete action, we will escalate our protest on a much larger scale,” Shukla warned.
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, a man named Rajiv Lal constructed a church-like house in the colony approximately five years ago. Since then, three additional houses have been built in a row, all of which are allegedly interconnected from the inside. Local residents suspect that these houses serve as hubs for Christian gatherings and possible conversion activities.
While no legal action has been taken as of yet, the incident has deepened religious tensions in the area.
