In a shocking case of forced religious conversion, a sick Hindu woman in Jabalpur’s Ranjhi area lodged an FIR against four persons who, it is alleged, attempted to convince her to convert to Christianity on the promise of recovering quickly from her illness and providing relief from financial troubles. She declined, at which point they used threats and coercion.
The incident raised new questions about the activities of religious conversion rackets, which frequently prey on socially and economically weaker sections, especially Scheduled Caste (SC) people, in semi-urban and tribal-dominated tracts of Madhya Pradesh.
False healing and financial help
The woman, Neetu Raikwar, a resident of Parshuram Basti, had been suffering from an illness for some time, as per the FIR lodged at Ranjhi Police Station. On February 2, she was attended by four men who were named as Manoj Pille, Vinod, Rajiv, and another unidentified individual who introduced themselves as part of the Christian community. They reportedly informed her that if she left her Hindu faith and converted to Christianity, her health would get better and her financial position would improve.
The men allegedly handed her Rs 2,000 as goodwill money and asked her to purchase items that were needed for Christian prayers. The group also asked her to start observing Christian traditions in order to seek divine healing.
Targeting a vulnerable household
Neetu, being subject to their influence at first, was contemplating the offer. Her husband was opposed to religious conversion, which created tension. The group returned on February 16, this time taking with them food provisions and inviting her to invite her neighbours over for a meal.
She obeyed, ringing up her neighbourhood residents such as Siyabai Kol and Manju Kol. The accused then allegedly took away pictures and statues of Hindu gods and goddesses from her house and substituted them with a portrait of Jesus Christ with a crucifix. They led the members in Christian prayer and announced that all the people present had now become Christians.
Repeated threats and intimidation
Once religious pictures were substituted and rituals performed, Neetu and her husband were subjected to further pressure and threats. When they objected to being converted, the accused are said to have threatened them. Feeling threatened and harassed, Neetu went to the police.
On the complaint, Ranjhi police have registered a case under the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act that bars forced or fraudulent conversions. An FIR has been lodged against Manoj Pille, Vinod, Rajiv, and an unidentified person, all natives of Ranjhi.
The police authorities have assured that the case has been registered and investigations are in progress. The accused will be called for questioning, and action will be taken against them on the basis of the evidence gathered.
This is not a one-off incident. Professionals as well as social leaders have long identified that religious conversion syndicates, working in the name of social work, healing, or education, actively target economically weaker sections. These communities are perceived to be weak because of poverty, ignorance, and social marginalisation.
Madhya Pradesh alone has witnessed numerous such incidents in the past, and hence, the state government has fortified the Religious Freedom Act, which was strengthened in 2021 to provide harsher punishment for inducement, coercion, and allurement-based conversions.
Legal framework
As per the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act:
· Any undeclaration and unverified conversion by an eligible magistrate is unlawful.
· Punishment under law for inducing conversion based on promises of health, wealth, education, marriage, or work.
· Convicts may undergo imprisonment for up to 10 years if the victim is SC/ST or woman or child.
