In a disturbing development from the holy city of Prayagraj, known for its spiritual sanctity and as a revered destination for moksha-seeking pilgrims, another case of religious conversion under the guise of a Christian healing meeting has surfaced. The event, held at Nevada Bazaar under Bahria Police Station, was disrupted by activists from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), who alleged that innocent Hindus were being targeted and pressured to renounce their faith in exchange for false promises of healing, employment, and prosperity.
The prayer gathering, referred to as a ‘Yeshu Darbar’, was reportedly held every Sunday. This time, however, Hindu activists, upon receiving repeated local complaints, reached the venue and were shocked by what they saw and heard.
“They told me I must stop worshipping Hindu gods, stop going to temples, and remove my ‘kalawa’ if I wanted to improve my life. They mocked Hindu deities and said we should replace our gods’ idols with photos of Jesus,” one local attendee emotionally told the activists and shared the video as well.
Allegations of a systematic conversion strategy
According to former BJP Zila Panchayat member from Mauaima, Abhishek Yadav, the event was not an isolated spiritual meeting but a well-orchestrated attempt to convert economically vulnerable Hindus.
“This is not a prayer meeting. This is a conversion factory,” said Yadav. “People are lured with false hopes, cures for diseases, jobs, family peace. They are asked to abandon their gods in exchange for miracles. It is an outright attack on Sanatan Dharma,” he added.
During the prayer session, local villagers informed the Gram Pradhan, who in turn alerted BJP and VHP functionaries. Promptly, the police were also informed, and Station House Officer Mahesh Kumar Mishra reached the spot with force to prevent escalation.
Panic at the venue, organisers flee
As police arrived, chaos ensued. Organisers reportedly tried to flee, but three of them, identified as Anil Kumar Bind, Krishna Kumar Bind, and Sanjay Vishwakarma, were caught and detained on the spot for questioning. VHP and BJP activists staged a protest, demanding immediate arrest and a thorough investigation.
“This is a bigger conspiracy than it seems. Poor Hindus, especially women, are being brainwashed using faith healing tactics,” said Munisha Nand Mishra, Gram Pradhan of Tulapur village. “This has to stop. We want the strictest action.”
Firsthand accounts of lure and pressure
Among those who spoke up was Usha Devi Patel of Bhawanigarh. She told police that she and her husband, Rajesh Kumar Patel, had been invited with offers of job opportunities, money, and healing from prolonged illness.
“Once we reached there, the entire setup was geared towards glorifying Christianity and belittling our religion,” she said. “They told us Christianity brings real peace and financial success, and that we should accept Jesus to change our lives.”
“Told to remove Kalwa, throw away idols, stop worshiping Hindu gods,” a Hindu man tells after being caught in a “Yeshu Darbar”- a Jesus prayer meeting organised by crypto converts in Prayagraj yesterday.
The Sunday prayer had hundreds of Hindus in attendance, with many wearing… pic.twitter.com/wOYfgCNNh0
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) June 23, 2025
The details were further confirmed in the First Information Report (FIR No. 117/2025 (Organiser has a copy of it)), filed by complainant Vibhuti Narayan Tripathi, who had personally attended the gathering after receiving repeated reports from locals.
In his statement, he mentioned: “I went to Nevada along with two others and attended the healing meeting led by Anil Kumar Bind, who was calling himself a pastor. There were others, Krishna Kumar Bind, Subhash Chand Bind, and Sanjay Vishwakarma, who took turns speaking. They told the attendees that Hinduism is worthless, that idols must be removed, and that Jesus alone could offer them money and miracles. They claimed funding for conversions comes from abroad and that new converts would get jobs in Christian institutions. When I protested, they abused me, threatened to kill me, and chased me.”
Police action and charges
Following this testimony and other accounts, the Bahariya Police registered an FIR under sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, along with Sections 352 and 351(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Four individuals, Krishna Bind, Subhash Bind, Anil Bind, and Sanjay Vishwakarma, have been booked.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Phoolpur, Pankaj Lawania, confirmed the development, “Based on the complaint of Vivek Kumar from Sarai Sultanpur, a case has been registered against 18 persons. Three have been detained and interrogation is underway. Further action will be taken based on the evidence.”
Police also confirmed that pamphlets and materials related to Christianity were recovered from the spot, reinforcing the allegation that conversion efforts were actively being carried out.
Growing concerns over the targeting of Hindus
The incident has reignited concerns about missionary activities in religious towns. Prayagraj, revered for its ancient Hindu heritage, Triveni Sangam, and as the site of Kumbh Mela, is now being seen as a soft target by evangelist networks looking to exploit poverty and desperation for conversions.
“This is happening not just in tribal areas or remote villages, but now even in a city like Prayagraj,” said a VHP worker. “It is time the administration wakes up before our culture and belief system is eroded from within.”
As the investigation continues, locals have demanded a statewide crackdown on such covert religious activities, especially those masquerading as healing camps or charity gatherings.
Global Context
According to the Christianity in its Global Context, 1970–2020: Society, Religion, and Mission report, Eastern Asia’s Christian population rose from 1.2 per cent in 1970 to 8.1 per cent in 2010 (106 million believers, primarily in China via “house church” movements), with projections estimating 10.5 per cent by 2020. South-Eastern Asia, with the highest Christian proportion, increased from 17.7 per cent in 1970 to 20.8 per cent in 2011, projected to reach 23.4 per cent by 2020. Western Asia saw a decline from 7.3 per cent in 1970 to 6.3 per cent in 2011, further projected to 5.4 per cent by 2020, driven by emigration from conflict zones like Lebanon and Syria.
South-central Asia, hosting over a quarter of the global population but only 4 per cent of its Christians, grew at 2.3 per cent annually from 1970 to 2010, outpacing the region’s 2.1 per cent population growth. The Christian share rose from 3.5 per cent in 1970 to 3.9 per cent in 2011, reaching 4 per cent by 2010, with a projected 4.1 per cent by 2020. India, accounting for 85 per cent of the region’s Christians, is central to this growth, driven by underground missionary networks and “crypto-converts.” Hindus or others secretly practising Christianity.
India’s 2011 Census reported 2.3 per cent Christians (27.8 million) out of 1.21 billion, with 18 per cent in Kerala, but missionary surveys claim Punjab’s Christian population surged from 1.3 per cent (2011 Census) to 15 per cent by 2020.
Independent churches, growing at 4.8% annually, surpassed Roman Catholics by 2020 (3.7 per cent vs. 3.5 per cent of Asia’s population). In India, covert conversions through house churches bypass legal scrutiny, raising concerns about cultural erosion. Missionaries also address poverty, enhancing Christianity’s appeal. The report projects that Asia’s Christian population reached 420 million by 2020, with India’s subterranean growth, particularly in Punjab, highlighting a transformative religious shift.
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