Guna: A case of alleged religious conversion has surfaced from a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Guna district, where members of the vanvas community were reportedly drawn to prayer meetings through claims of healing and promises of relief from illness and addiction.
According to media reports, a large gathering was held on April 5 in Mohanpur Khurd village in the name of Easter celebrations. During the event, two goats and around 40 chickens were reportedly slaughtered to prepare a feast for around 300–400 attendees, most of them from the Bhil vanvasi community.Villagers were invited to participate in prayer sessions where it was claimed that diseases could be cured and addictions overcome through prayer. Several attendees were prayed over individually for relief from health issues.
Allegations of Healing-Based Gatherings and Viral Video Spark Controversy
The matter came under scrutiny after a video of the event went viral on social media. The footage shows a man identified as Pastor Uttam Barela placing his hands on individuals’ heads while claiming that prayers could heal illnesses, triggering allegations of religious conversion activities.
Following the viral video, reports suggest that individuals associated with the missionary activities locked the local church premises and left the area. Hindu organisations have strongly objected, alleging that such gatherings are being used to influence and convert vulnerable vanvasi communities by promoting superstition and offering inducements.
Missionary activities in Mohanpur Khurd are not new and have reportedly been ongoing in the region for over two decades. It is claimed that several village children were earlier sent to missionary-run hostels for education, and some of them have since returned as pastors. These individuals are now said to be conducting prayer meetings and encouraging others to embrace Christianity.
Pastor Barela and others associated with the group have maintained that their work is not focused on religious conversion but on “changing hearts,” stating that prayer helps people overcome addiction and illness. This is not the first such instance reported from the area. In 2017, the local administration had taken action against similar activities. A building constructed on land reserved for vanvasi communities was sealed, and two churches were shut down following protests and legal proceedings.
