New Delhi: Police in Chhattisgarh on December 3 booked three individuals for allegedly promoting illegal conversion in Bilaspur district.
The incident came to light after local Hindu activists raised alarm over alleged attempts of conversion at a Prarthana Sabha (Prayer ceremony) being organised at a private premise in Chilhati area under the jurisdiction of Pachpedi police station limits of Bilaspur.
The activists upon receiving information reached outside an Atal Awas in Chilhati area of the town where a religious program was being attended by around 25-30 people.
The local Hindu activists raised strong objection against the gathering alleging illegal conversion related activities. The protest soon led to a confrontation with the organisers of the program, prompting authorities to intervene.
A police team reached the spot upon receiving information and tried calming both the parties. The activists opposing the gathering alleged that attempts were being made to lure people into changing their religion at the program.
Police on the basis of a written complaint filed by one of the locals later booked three individuals identified as Anita Nayak, Ambad Devdas and J Prabhakar Rao under section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), detaining them subsequently.
The matter is being probed further by the authorities.
It is worth mentioning here that this is not the only time that such a case has come to the fore from Bilaspur and numerous such incidents have surfaced from the town in recent times, raising concern over the growing menace of illegal conversion.
A similar incident was also reported from the town’s Sipat area in September this year where opposition to a Prarthana Sabha by local Hindu activists had led to a serious scuffle with the people from the Christian community. The police had later registered an FIR into the matter.
#बिलासपुर में धर्मांतरण पर बवाल, सीपत के एक घर में जुटे थे लोग, हिंदू संगठन ने लगाया धर्मांतरण का आरोप, लालच देकर ब्रेनवॉश करने का आरोप, हिंदू संगठन के पहुंचे पर बवाल, पुलिस कर रही है मामले की जांच#Bilaspur #BreakingNews pic.twitter.com/0uToCt3Be8
— News18 Chhattisgarh (@News18CG) September 14, 2025
Notably, the state of Chhattisgarh has long been marred by illegal conversion related activities more particularly in the tribal populated regions.
Activists fighting against the menace of illegal conversion claimed that such cases are on a rise in the state and the administration should act strongly against individuals or group promoting illegal conversion related activities.
The state government on the other hand has indicated about introducing a stringent anti-conversion law in the upcoming session of the state assembly.
