Three Christians arrested over conversion allegations in India
Police arrested three Christians, including two women, after Hindu nationalist leader accused them of attempting to convert people during healing prayer service in Uttar Pradesh
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Police in India’s northern Uttar Pradesh state have arrested three Christians, including two women, following allegations by a Hindu nationalist leader that they attempted to convert poor people during a Christian healing prayer service.
Subedar, Rekha Devi and Sadhna were arrested on Aug. 25 under provisions of the state’s stringent anti-conversion law, according to UCA News. The three are residents of Kathauli village, also known as Bhawanipur, on the outskirts of Prayagraj city (formerly Allahabad).
The case stems from a prayer gathering held at a private home in the village on Aug. 23. A police complaint names the three arrested Christians, two other women and about 100 unidentified people, accusing them of attempting to convert those attending the gathering.
The complaint was filed by Shubham Kumar, a local leader of the Bajrang Dal, the militant youth wing of the Hindu supremacist Vishva Hindu Parishad.
Kumar alleged that mass conversions were taking place during the healing ceremony and said many of those attending fled after activists from the Bajrang Dal and VHP arrived and began protesting.
Police initially detained five Christians named in the case but later released Chanda Devi and Ranno Devi because of insufficient evidence, Pathak said. He said police had launched a detailed investigation into the allegations.
Local Christians rejected claims that the prayer gathering constituted an attempt at religious conversion.
Pastor Ravi Mohan said arrests of Christians, including pastors, had become routine in Uttar Pradesh, with Hindu nationalist groups frequently portraying prayer meetings and charitable activities as conversion attempts.
The case comes amid mounting concern among Christians over the use of anti-conversion laws against their religious activities. Uttar Pradesh prohibits religious conversions through force, fraud, coercion, undue influence or allurement, with amendments in recent years significantly increasing penalties and broadening provisions of the law.
Christian groups say accusations of forced conversion are frequently used by Hindu extremist groups to disrupt prayer meetings and initiate police cases against pastors and worshippers.
The United Christian Forum, an ecumenical body that tracks attacks against Christians, documented 843 incidents of persecution against Christians across India in 2024, including 209 in Uttar Pradesh — the highest number recorded in any state.
Christian leaders and rights advocates say the cases have created an atmosphere of fear in which even routine worship, healing prayers and private religious gatherings risk attracting conversion allegations and police action.
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