A case of Christian missionary activities inside a government-affiliated school in Madhya Pradesh has triggered outrage, leading to police action, administrative inquiry, and strong protests from Hindu organisations. The controversy unfolded after a parent complained that teachers at the Nava Kanti School (a Navodaya institution located in Ward No. 18 of Jangipura, Dabra town, Gwalior district) were preaching about Jesus Christ and attempting to convert students and their families.
Following the complaint, police registered an FIR on 29 August 2025 at the Itarsi Police Station under Section 5 of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, 2021, which prohibits forced or induced religious conversions.
Three individuals, Shyamnayaran, Revika Nanda, and Denzil, were named in the FIR. According to the complaint, teachers had allegedly been delivering sermons praising Christianity for the past year and luring parents and students to convert by offering jobs and financial incentives.
The complainant, a parent of a student, revealed that his son informed him about these sermons, claiming that even the school principal was aware of the activities.
The situation escalated on August 25, 2025, when the complainant personally visited the school with a friend and allegedly found two outsiders distributing Christian literature to students. The men reportedly approached him, handed him a Bible, praised Jesus, and offered him money and a job if he converted.
Soon after, education department official Deepak Chaukotia arrived at the spot, accompanied by members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who confronted him over the alleged lack of inspection that allowed such activities to go unnoticed. A video of the heated exchange has since circulated widely on social media.
The Christian literature recovered from the premises was seized and later sealed by the education official.
In response to the complaint, the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) formed a three-member committee to probe the matter. Preliminary findings reportedly pointed to several irregularities within the school’s functioning.
Key details revealed by the inquiry include:
The school is run by the Nava Kanti Committee since 2012.
It is affiliated with the Madhya Pradesh Board of Secondary Education (MPBSE) and had its recognition renewed in 2025.
Currently, the school has around 70 students enrolled across different classes.
A local NGO had been running a vocational training centre inside the premises, though no qualified staff or teachers were present.
Two individuals were reportedly found living in the school’s residential quarters without official authorisation.
The names of the principal and director of the school are Anil Nigam and Abrahim Kranti, respectively. Their role in the alleged activities is now under administrative scrutiny.
The incident has once again brought to focus the issue of missionary-driven conversion rackets in Madhya Pradesh. Hindu organisations have called for stricter monitoring of schools to ensure that educational spaces are not misused for religious propaganda.
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