In a massive crackdown on religious conversion activities, six individuals, including a pastor, were arrested on April 6 from the Bahatarai area of the Bilaspur district in Chhattisgarh for attempting to convert local Hindus to Christianity under the guise of a “healing meeting.” The incident took place within the jurisdiction of the Sarkanda police station and has sparked renewed concerns over rising instances of illegal conversions in the region.
According to the First Information Report (FIR No.: 514/2025) accessed by Organiser registered at the Sarkanda PS, the police took action based on a complaint filed by Pankaj Pandey, a member of a local Hindu organisation. The arrested individuals include Pastor Deepak Singh Sidar, his wife Pooja Sidar, Deepa Gotel, Gurvinder Singh, Shivkumar Dhivar, and Madhu Kumar. They have been charged under Section 3 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, which prohibits conversion through force, inducement, or fraudulent means.
Pandey, in his complaint, alleged that he received credible information about a Christian prayer meeting taking place at a residence in Bahatarai. Upon reaching the location with other organisation members, he claimed to have found around 50 local Hindus gathered. The FIR notes that the attendees were being induced to abandon their faith with promises of miraculous healing and financial support, playing upon their poverty and health-related fears.
Further investigations revealed that such meetings were not isolated incidents. According to local Hindu activists, regular Sunday prayer meetings had been taking place across Bahatarai, including Atal Awas colony. The events were allegedly designed to slowly persuade unsuspecting Hindu participants to adopt Christianity.
One of the activists remarked, “Under the guise of spiritual healing and prayers, innocent Hindus are being psychologically manipulated and drawn away from their faith.”
Notably, a similar gathering reportedly occurred on March 31 in Yadunandan Nagar, where Pastor Deepak and his wife Pooja led prayers attended by several local Hindus.
The complaint further stated that in the Bahatarai incident, two separate gatherings were being conducted simultaneously—one in the upper portion and another in the lower portion of the building—both allegedly with the objective of conversion.
Speaking on the incident, Hindu activist Ram Singh Thakur said the situation reflects a “systematic attempt” to convert vulnerable communities in Bilaspur. “This is not an isolated case,” Thakur said. “We’ve observed similar activities in regions like Koni, Sakri, Civil Lines, and Masturi. Now Bahatarai too is being targeted. Poor and innocent Hindus are being lured into changing their religion through false promises and emotional manipulation.”
He accused the organisers of exploiting the economic and social vulnerabilities of tribal and backward-class populations by using emotional appeals and monetary inducements disguised as religious services.
All six accused were taken into custody following the raid and are currently facing legal proceedings under the state’s stringent anti-conversion law. Police officials have confirmed that further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the alleged conversion network and whether more people are involved.
The incident has once again ignited debate around religious conversions in tribal and semi-urban areas of Chhattisgarh, a state that has witnessed several such allegations in the past. Community leaders and religious organisations are calling for stricter monitoring of religious gatherings that may be used as fronts for proselytising activities.
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