In recent months, Chhattisgarh has witnessed a troubling rise in incidents of alleged religious conversion, particularly under the guise of prayer meetings and healing gatherings. These developments have sparked widespread concern among local communities and Hindu organisations, who claim that vulnerable tribal and Hindu populations are being systematically targeted through inducement and psychological manipulation. The latest series of incidents in Champa, Bilaspur, and Jashpur highlight a growing pattern that not only threatens communal harmony but also raises urgent questions about the misuse of religious freedom and the need for strict enforcement of anti-conversion laws in the state.
Champa Conversion Row
On April 12, communal tensions escalated in Champa town of the Janjgir-Champa district, Chhattisgarh, following allegations of religious conversion under the cover of a “healing prayer meeting.” The incident unfolded at a three-story building near BDM Hospital Chowk, where a large gathering of people, including participants from outside the state, had assembled.
According to locals, the event began quietly, with women, children, and men arriving gradually. However, as the crowd swelled, suspicions grew that the event was not merely a prayer meet, but an attempt to convert Hindus to the Christian faith through inducement and promises of miraculous healing.
Bajrang Dal activists, having received information about the gathering, reached the location and questioned the participants. Finding the presence of religious posters, literature, and conversion-related material, they promptly alerted the police.
Police, led by the Station House Officer of Champa, arrived on the scene, brought the situation under control, and began a formal investigation. Authorities confirmed that the attendees included people from Madhya Pradesh and Raipur, along with local residents.
Subsequently, an FIR (No. 140/25) was registered at Champa Police Station under Section 3 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act (commonly referred to as the Anti-Conversion Law) and Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which pertains to promoting enmity between communities.
Conversion in the name of Healing Meetings in Chhattisgarh:
On April 12, a large gathering, including people from other states, assembled in Janjgir Champa for a healing meeting. Hindus from Chhattisgarh and beyond participated in the sessions. Religious posters and books were… pic.twitter.com/6kP2MivHbX
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) April 14, 2025
Those arrested include Jackson and Ansuya, residents of Champa; Hetal, hailing from Madhya Pradesh; and Yogesh Kumar, a resident of Raipur.
All four are accused of promoting religious frenzy and encouraging religious conversion under the guise of prayer and miraculous healing.
ASP Umesh Kashyap, confirming the arrests, stated, “Individuals from other states were present and were found encouraging religious conversion. We took prompt action to maintain law and order. The villagers who had gathered at the event were safely sent home.”
The incident gained further attention as it occurred on Hanuman Jayanti, adding to the emotional intensity in the region. Police have confiscated books, pamphlets, and posters from the site, many of which allegedly carried messages implying that the prayer sessions could cure illnesses—a tactic often cited in faith-based conversion cases.
Bilaspur: Conversion Allegations at Christian Prayer Gathering
In a separate but similarly charged incident in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, another group was accused of orchestrating religious conversions through weekly healing meetings. This event was held at Preeti Bhavan, Rajendra Nagar Chowk, in the jurisdiction of the Civil Lines police station.
On the evening of April 6, members of the Christian community held a prayer session, reportedly attended by several local Hindus. Following complaints by Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal activists, alleging that inducements and psychological manipulation were being used to convert Hindus, police intervened.
The police detained several people for questioning, and based on a written complaint from a woman participant, an FIR was registered. The three arrested individuals are G. Joy Daniel, Aashirvad Baghel and Suhas
All three belong to the Christian community and are accused of orchestrating conversions by leveraging prayer sessions as a front. The police have booked them under the Chhattisgarh Anti-Conversion Law, and investigations are ongoing.
Local reports state that such prayer meetings, often involving microphones and audio systems, have been regularly held at Preeti Bhavan every Thursday and Sunday. Many attendees, including Hindus, were reportedly unaware of the event’s true purpose.
Ram Singh, a member of a Hindu group, alleged, “These prayer sessions have been happening for over a year. People are being misled and brainwashed to convert. Those arrested were training others in how to conduct such conversions.”
Jashpur: Nursing Student Alleges Pressure to Convert and Become a Nun
In another high-profile case in the Jashpur district, a young woman studying at Holy Cross College of Nursing has filed a grave complaint accusing a senior faculty member of coercing her into converting to Christianity and joining the convent.
An FIR (No. 76/25) has been registered at Kunkuri Police Station based on the victim’s statement. She has alleged that she was persistently pressured and threatened to convert, her academic progress was obstructed—she was denied entry into classes, and she was even warned of failure if she did not agree to become a nun.
The main accused in the case is Sister Vinci Joseph, who, according to the complaint, used her position of authority to pressure the student.
Due to the sensitivity and seriousness of the matter, police have so far withheld specific details of the ongoing investigation, and no arrests have been made yet.
“Forced Me to Become a Nun”
Listen to this woman, a student at Holy Cross College of Nursing in Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. She has lodged a complaint (FIR No.: 76/25) at Kunkuri Police Station, accusing Sister Vinci Joseph of forcing her to convert to Christianity.
She alleges she… pic.twitter.com/6VOkPLu35z
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) April 11, 2025
Reacting to the lack of swift action, members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal staged a protest rally in Jashpur, demanding immediate arrest of the accused and an independent investigation into the institution’s conduct. The case has stirred deep emotions among the local community, especially among tribal and Hindu groups who see this as yet another example of systematic religious pressure in missionary-run institutions.
These three incidents within a span of days have raised serious concerns in Chhattisgarh, where healing prayer meetings and religious gatherings are increasingly being scrutinized amid allegations of conversion tactics.
