An American citizen, identified as 58-year-old James Watson, was arrested on October 3, in Bhiwandi, located in Maharashtra’s Thane district, on allegations of attempting to convert local Hindus to Christianity.
Watson was taken into custody along with two Maharashtra residents. He had reportedly been residing in Thane’s Hiranandani Estate on a business visa and was allegedly involved in organising a religious gathering at the time of his arrest.
The incident came to light following a complaint filed by a local resident, 27-year-old Ravindra Bhurkut, at the Bhiwandi Taluka Police Station. Bhurkut claimed to have witnessed a group of individuals preaching Christianity to approximately 30–35 villagers outside a residence.
According to the complaint, Watson allegedly made critical remarks about Hinduism, characterising it as a faith based on blind belief, and claimed that true happiness and success could only be attained by converting to Christianity. Furthermore, the complaint states that the accused claimed illnesses could be healed through prayers to Jesus Christ.
During the raid, police apprehended Watson and recovered several books related to Christianity. In the raid video, Watson is seen trying to shield the books from being seized before his arrest.
Watson and his two associates, Ganpati Sarpe (42) and Manoj Govind Kolha (35), have been booked under Sections 299 and 302 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.
American national identified as active US military personnel
In a significant development following the arrest, it has been revealed that James Watson is not only an American citizen but also an active member of the US military. Investigations by sources have uncovered multiple links connecting Watson to the US Army, identifying him as a Major.
Multiple sources have now confirmed that Major James Watson serves as the Executive Officer of the 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defence Artillery (ADA), based at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The 2-44th ADA is an active operational unit, and according to information cited in his article, it was preparing for an upcoming deployment in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel.
Additional evidence of Watson’s active military role includes a 2020 article [PDF] he authored titled “Owning the Skies, Winning the Fight.” In the piece, Watson examines the growing threat of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones, and the strategic challenges they present to Air Defence forces.
In his article, Watson underscores the paradox of modern warfare—where advanced military technology is challenged by adversaries using basic tactics with commercially available drones modified to carry explosive payloads. He highlights the serious threat posed by the rapid spread and weaponisation of unmanned aerial systems (UAS), particularly “low and slow” Group 1 platforms such as quadcopters.
Watson criticises the lengthy battle drills implemented as part of risk mitigation strategies for ground commanders, arguing that these procedures often delay timely kinetic responses and allow hostile drones to operate without interference.
His central conclusion is clear: the Air Defence Artillery must take full control of the UAS engagement process to effectively counter this evolving threat.
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