3 held over 'Christian conversion' bid through financial inducements in UP's Sitapur

SITAPUR: Police in Uttar Pradesh's Sitapur district arrested three persons and registered a case after receiving information about an alleged religious conversion activity being conducted under the guise of a prayer meeting in Ramnagar Khatkari village under the Ramkot police station area. The accused allegedly sought to persuade villagers, including economically vulnerable residents, to convert to Christianity by offering financial assistance and other inducements, police said.According to police, the action was initiated on June 7 after authorities received information that a prayer gathering linked to alleged conversion activities was being held in the village. A police team immediately reached the spot and launched an inquiry. During the operation, three persons conducting the gathering were taken into custody.The arrested individuals were identified as Manjeet Kumar, Vishnu, and Nand Kishore Maurya. Prayer Meeting Under ScannerPolice said the trio was allegedly conducting a Christian prayer meeting in the village when the raid was carried out. Preliminary investigations revealed that local resident Vishnu had allegedly invited Manjeet Kumar and Nand Kishore Maurya to the village to organize the gathering.According to investigators, the accused were allegedly attempting to influence villagers to embrace Christianity by offering monetary benefits and other incentives. Police claimed that residents were being promised financial support and assistance in return for changing their faith.Officials said the allegations are being examined as part of an ongoing investigation, and further evidence is being collected to establish the nature and extent of the alleged conversion activities.Religious Material RecoveredDuring the search operation, police recovered a Bible, a large wooden cross and several books and pamphlets purportedly related to religious conversion activities. The seized material has been taken into custody and sent for examination as part of the investigation.Police officials said the recovery forms an important part of the evidence being scrutinized to determine whether any provisions of Uttar Pradesh's anti-conversion law were violated.Case Registered, Accused To Be Sent To JailRamkot Station House Officer Piyush Singh said a detailed investigation was underway and all relevant facts were being collected. Based on the preliminary findings, police have initiated legal proceedings against the three accused.Officials said an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the law and the process of producing the accused before a court and sending them to judicial custody has been initiated.Police alleged that the three men were collectively involved in encouraging people to convert religion through economic inducements and that the case would be investigated thoroughly before further action is taken.Village Abuzz After Police ActionThe incident triggered widespread discussion in Ramnagar Khatkari and nearby villages. Following the police action, local residents gathered in the area and the matter quickly became a subject of public attention.The latest alleged religious conversion case in Sitapur's Ramkot area is not an isolated incident. Over the past four years, police in the district have registered multiple cases involving allegations of attempts to convert people through prayer meetings, inducements and missionary activities.According to police records, one of the largest such cases surfaced in 2022 in Shahbazpur Pokhra village under Sadarpur police station limits, where authorities alleged that nearly 400 people were being influenced to convert after a church had been established in the area. Police registered an FIR against 37 persons, including pastor David and his wife Rohini, accusing them of involvement in conversion-related activities.In another case the same year, police in Saidapur village under Sakran police station registered an FIR against three persons on allegations of attempting to facilitate religious conversions.Also in 2022, police investigated an alleged conversion attempt at the residence of Mayaram, a resident of Chakpurwa village under Tambaur police station limits. The matter was taken up after local complaints and an inquiry was initiated by authorities.During the same year, Laharpur police registered a case against Govardhan, a resident of Khurwaliya village in Reusa, and Vinod, a resident of Pakariya Purwa in neighbouring Lakhimpur Kheri district, in connection with alleged conversion-related activities.More recently, on December 12, 2024, police arrested a pastor identified as Elgin in Sidhauli on allegations of attempting to convert local residents. The arrest was made following a complaint and subsequent police investigation.In February 2025, Kamalapur police arrested Ram Baran and his wife Mona, residents of Lakhanapur village, in connection with another alleged conversion case. Investigators claimed that the couple had links to a church located in the Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT) area of Lucknow and were allegedly involved in persuading local residents to change their faith. Police alleged that the couple was attempting to influence villagers through various means before they were taken into custody.The series of cases has kept the issue of alleged religious conversions under scrutiny in Sitapur district, with police maintaining that investigations are conducted on the basis of complaints received and evidence gathered during inquiries. Several of the cases have been registered under provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act and other relevant laws.