In yet another shocking case of forced conversions, Rajasthan police rescued 50 children from a missionary-run hostel in Alwar, where Hindu and Sikh minors were indoctrinated with Bible teachings. Authorities confirmed that the racket, linked to pastors in Tamil Nadu, had been operational for nearly five years.
On September 3, Alwar district police, acting on a tip-off from Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists, unearthed a religious conversion racket being run under the guise of a missionary hostel. The facility, managed by an organisation called Friends Missionary Prayer Band (FMPB), housed over 80 children, most from Hindu and Sikh families, who were systematically indoctrinated to denounce their faith and accept Jesus as their “only God.”
The rescued children were between the ages of 10 and 17, including 15 from Rajput families, 15 from Sikh households, and 20 from the Scheduled Castes (SCs). Police confirmed that the hostel had been operational for at least five years.
Police intervention and FIRs
Based on the complaint of Vijendra Khandelwal, a local Hindu activist, the First Information Report (FIR No. 324/2025) was registered at Udyog Nagar Police Station under BNS sections 196(2) and 299.
Khandelwal alleged, “The operatives forced Hindu and Sikh children to accept Jesus, telling them that only He is the true God while Lord Ram, Krishna, and Guru Nanak were fake.”
He further revealed that children were subjected to manipulative experiments.
“They would dip idols of Hindu gods in water, showing that the idols sank, while the cross remained afloat. They then told children that Hindu gods were powerless, but the cross represented the ultimate saviour,” Khandelwal told Organiser.
Following the complaint, police detained two accused, Bodhar Amrit from Gujarat and Sohan Singh from Alwar, while booking 15 others, including Tamil Nadu-based pastor Sailvam.
A second FIR (No. 416/25) was also lodged at Udyog Nagar Police Station against Sailvam and his associates.
Repeat offenders and past links
Alwar Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudhir Chaudhary confirmed that Sohan Singh had a prior record:
“Singh was arrested in August 2024 in Sikar for a similar conversion racket. He got bail and soon shifted to Alwar to set up this hostel. We will now move to get his bail cancelled. Strict action will be taken against anyone else found running conversion rackets in the name of education.”
Police seized Bibles, religious literature, digital material, and bank account details of the accused. Authorities suspect large-scale funding, with Singh reportedly sending children to expensive schools while running the hostel in the name of charity.
Disturbing testimonies from rescued children
Investigators recorded the statements of several children in plain clothes to avoid intimidation. Many admitted they were coerced into rejecting their family deities.
One child confessed: “We do not believe in our gods anymore. Jesus is the only God. We also pray every morning and evening.”
Another boy from Ramgarh, whose parents were daily wage laborers, said: “We have been here for five years. Every day we are told to pray only to Jesus.”
Parents too admitted to falling prey to promises of education and financial aid. A mother revealed she paid Rs 3,000 annually to keep her son at the hostel, believing he would get better opportunities.
A Sikh father, Rajendra Singh from Mehrrampur, confessed he was also lured into conversion: “My son was admitted in 2022. I was introduced to a church near Bakhtal. The Bible preached against caste distinctions. I was so influenced that I stopped my Sikh prayers four years ago.”
Another child revealed his grandparents had already converted, highlighting the multi-generational impact of missionary efforts.
Neighbours speak out
Local resident Pappu, who lives next to the hostel, told police: “The hostel has been running for at least five years. Children pray morning and evening, but I never understood their prayers. Parents visit every Sunday for ‘kirtan’. When I asked to admit my kids, I was told they only take children from distant villages.”
Pappu further claimed that teachers lived on the premises and the children were rarely seen outside.
Indoctrination Methods: “Only Jesus saves”
Children repeatedly testified that missionaries forced them to chant: “Only those who worship Jesus will go to heaven; others will burn in hell.”
Police confirmed that the indoctrination process was deeply systematic, with Chennai-based FMPB funding the entire operation. Students aged 16-17 were pressured to reject their own gods and embrace Christianity as the only path to salvation.
Larger Concerns
Khandelwal, who unearthed the racket, warned that such hostels were only the tip of the iceberg: “There are many such facilities luring innocent Hindus into Christianity under the guise of education, treatment, or cheaper accommodation. This must be investigated nationwide.”
Police have intensified their probe into the funding sources and cross-state links of the racket. With two operatives detained and FIRs against 15 others, officials say further arrests are likely.
The Alwar case has reignited concerns over missionary conversion networks operating under the garb of social service, education, and charity, leaving many questioning how many more children across India may be trapped in similar institutions.
