Yet another attempt to lure the downtrodden, particularly from the Dalit community, into Christianity has come to light in the Naeka Tola area of Chapra, Bihar’s Saran district. The locality is predominantly inhabited by Dalit families. The issue gained attention after villagers protested against a converted Christian man who had allegedly turned a proposed school into a church. Despite their complaints and involvement of Hindu activists, the police have yet to register an FIR, citing a lack of evidence.
According to a complaint letter accessed by Organiser, on April 3, Ramnath Manjhi, a resident of Jasa Tola, submitted a letter to the Rivilganj Police Station Head demanding protection from converted Christians, particularly one Jyoti Prakash, a native of Jehanabad now residing in the house of Mohammad Farzan Ali in Naeka Tola. Manjhi alleged that he and his family had received threats and urgently required police intervention in the matter of forced religious conversions.
Manjhi informed the police that over the past few days, Jyoti Prakash had been calling Dalits to Prarthana Sabhas (prayer meetings). Attendees received envelopes containing Rs 1,000, refreshments, a Bible, and a bottle of water claimed to cure all ailments when consumed with chants of “Hallelujah.” Prakash allegedly instructed them to abandon Hindu rituals and deities, calling them false, and urged them to chant the Christian mantra, “Hallelujah” instead.
Prakash also asked Manjhi, along with others in the village, to convert to Christianity in exchange for a better life. When Manjhi refused, Prakash reportedly said, “You Hindus of lower caste—I am offering you money to change your religion and live a dignified life, but instead, you choose to be sacrificed like goats in this age.”
Manjhi appealed to the police to take immediate action against Jyoti Prakash and his associates to prevent mass conversions in the village.
A video from the same day as the altercation went viral on social media. Taking cognisance, the Saran Police released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) on April 8, stating that a letter alleging religious conversions was received on April 3. They claimed to have investigated the matter thoroughly, but found no substantiating evidence, hence no action was taken.
On April 9, police issued another press note stating that some anti-social elements attempted to disrupt the electricity supply and removed centering planks from an under-construction building meant for a particular community. One person was detained, and an investigation is ongoing based on a complaint received from the aggrieved party.
SSP Kumar Ashish confirmed in a press note on April 9 that a viral video allegedly showing Christian conversions in the area prompted a joint investigation by the police station in-charge and the local circle officer. While no direct evidence of conversion was found, considering the gravity of the allegations, the case has been handed over to the Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Sadar-1, for further inquiry.
In a video statement to Organiser, Ramnath said he was initially asked to sign a paper under the pretense that a school was being constructed for village children. However, as construction neared completion, a church board was erected and money ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000 was offered to those who agreed to convert to Christianity, abandoning their katha-puja and Hindu rituals.
A Dalit man from Chapra, Ramnath Manjhi, says, “They gave me one thousand rupees in an envelope and told me to leave Puja Path.”
These families opposed one Jyoti Prakash, who first captured land in their locality to build a school and later converted it into a church.
When… pic.twitter.com/ipfOR5go4P
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) April 10, 2025
According to media reports, the church construction had been ongoing for two years, with locals contributing under the belief that a school was being built. The villagers were shocked when the structure was revealed to be a church. Subsequently, missionaries began visiting the site regularly, luring villagers with money and incentives to convert.
Ramnath Manjhi revealed that prayers were held every Sunday and Rs 1,000 was distributed to attendees. Missionaries also offered to cover the expenses for daughters’ marriages and children’s education for those who converted. Locals were advised against celebrating Hindu festivals like Chhath Puja. Bottles of “blessed” water were distributed, with instructions to drink it for 20 days while chanting “Hallelujah.”
“They told us to stop worshipping our gods and instead worship Jesus Christ, promising that there would be no sorrow in our lives,” said Vidyavati Devi, a local resident.
Bihar News : छपरा में चर्च निर्माण का भारी विरोध…लालच देकर धर्म परिवर्तन का आरोप #Bihar #BiharNews pic.twitter.com/Sg51CLD2OD
— Zee Bihar Jharkhand (@ZeeBiharNews) April 8, 2025
Following protests, Section 163 of the BNSS (previously Section 144 of CrPC) was imposed in Ward No. 10, Jasa Tola, Rivilganj, on April 8, after enraged villagers vandalised the under-construction church, alleging it was being built under false pretenses. A complaint was later filed by the missionary organisation.
Upon receiving information about the vandalism, the police visited the site and assessed the situation. In a press statement issued on April 9, SSP Kumar Ashish stated that an electric meter and two centering planks had been removed from the structure. An FIR was lodged based on the missionary group’s complaint, and one individual has been detained.
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