In an unprecedented move, the Chhattisgarh administration has transferred the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) and Tehsildar of Rajpur in Balrampur district following intense protests and allegations of enabling religious conversions under the guise of a Christian healing assembly, locally referred to as a “Changai Sabha.”
The action comes in the wake of sustained protests by Hindu organisations and a formal memorandum submitted to the district administration, demanding disciplinary measures against the officials for granting permission for the event. The administration subsequently initiated an investigation, after which the transfers were ordered.
According to media reports, Rajpur SDM Rajeev James Kujur has now been transferred to the Balrampur district office, while Tehsildar Poonam Rashmi Tigga has been reassigned to the Land Records Branch. In their place, Joint Collector Devendra Kumar Pradhan has been appointed as SDM Rajpur, and Naib Tehsildar Narendra Kumar Kanwar has taken over as the acting Tehsildar.
Changai Sabha in question
The controversy erupted after SDM Kujur allegedly permitted a Changai Sabha to be held in Baidhi village, where hundreds of villagers gathered. The event, organised by Christian missionaries, came under scrutiny after complaints emerged that religious conversions were taking place during the assembly under the pretence of healing and social support.
Acting on these reports, the police and district administration intervened and shut down the event mid-way.
A case was registered, and two individuals, Pastor Sandeep Bhagat (30), a resident of Mahuwapara in Ambikapur, and Parsu Bek (48), a local resident of Balrampur district, were arrested. They were booked under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act after a written complaint alleged their involvement in organised conversion activity.
The FIR and what it revealed
FIR No. 132/2025, registered on June 11 at Naya Rajpur Police Station, was based on a complaint filed by Rambali Minj, who reported that Parsu Bek and Sandeep Bhagat had lured villagers by promising solutions to illnesses, financial problems, and educational benefits, all contingent upon converting to Christianity.
The complaint specifically mentioned that the accused used loudspeakers to make public announcements claiming that Christianity could cure diseases, secure jobs, and provide free education and medical assistance through foreign-funded Christian organisations.
Eyewitnesses alleged that no medical help was actually available on-site, and around 200 villagers had gathered after these promises were made.
A copy of the complaint submitted to the Rajpur Police Station reads: “Christians in Chitiyapara of Baidhi village are misleading tribal and other Hindu communities using loudspeakers. They promise healing, money, jobs, and benefits if they convert to Christianity. Such false promises have caused unrest and chaos in the village.”
Following the arrest, both accused were produced before the court and sent to jail. The police confirmed that they had received credible evidence of inducement and public disturbance caused by the event.
Repeat of a pattern?
This is not an isolated case. In a similar incident in Durg on May 29, reported by Organiser, police detained several individuals from Raipur Naka colony for conducting an illegal Changai Sabha with the alleged aim of conversion. That event was held at the home of one Madhu Tandi, where a pastor and his associates were reportedly found enticing local Hindus with promises similar to those in the Baidhi event.
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists intervened and confronted the organisers, eventually handing them over to the Padmanabhpur police. The community’s swift response again pointed to growing tensions and opposition to such missionary activities in tribal-dominated and rural regions of Chhattisgarh.
Rising tensions over illegal conversions
Hindu organisations and tribal groups have repeatedly raised concerns over the surge in religious conversion activities, particularly in remote and tribal belts of the state. The Changai Sabhas, often held under the garb of “prayer meetings” or “healing assemblies,” are accused of using emotional and financial inducements to convert vulnerable populations.
Many Hindu activists argue that these activities not only violate the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act but also disrupt the social harmony and indigenous customs of tribal societies. On several occasions, this has resulted in conflicts between newly converted Christians and traditional tribal families, triggering large-scale protests and demands for stricter enforcement of anti-conversion laws.
With the transfer of two senior officials in Rajpur, the state administration has signalled its intent to crack down on lapses that allow such gatherings to be held without due scrutiny.
However, social organisations believe that more stringent oversight and proactive laws are required to curb what they describe as a systematic campaign of conversion targeting tribal populations.
