Ghaziabad Conversion Racket: Govt Employee, Pastor, and Hindu Colony Targeted

In recent times, authorities in various districts of Uttar Pradesh have exposed Christian conversion rackets. Last week, the Uttar Pradesh police uncovered two such rackets operating in Amethi and Meerut. In both instances, the accused individuals allegedly targeted Hindus by offering financial incentives and other enticements. Similarly, in September, five individuals were arrested in Sewa Nagar, Ghaziabad, for allegedly converting Hindus to Christianity under the pretext of providing jobs, money, education, marriage, and other benefits.

(Images via Swati Goel Sharma's X profile @Swati_GS)

Acting on a tip-off about an alleged attempt to convert people to Christianity, the police raided the residence of Ravi Kumar on September 23. During the operation, Ravi Kumar, Ashish Masih (33), Rohan, Deepak, and Modinagar church priest Gerald Mathews Masseya were taken into custody.

The case was brought to light by activists from Dharma Jagran Samanvay (DJS), who arrived at the location where the alleged conversion activities were taking place. They discovered conversion-related literature and other materials. The activists subsequently alerted the Nandgram police, leading to the police action.

In this instance, the complaint was filed by Naveen Singh, the coordinator of DJS, who stated, “The accused initially contacted people on the pretext of treating illnesses. Then they lured people with offers of jobs, school admissions for their children, and even marriage to convert them.”

Sharma revealed that Ravi, who converted to Christianity two years ago, is a government employee, while the Church priest, Gerald Mathews, is associated with Ingraham School, a missionary-run educational institution well-known in Ghaziabad.

At the time, the police stated that they were investigating allegations that this group was involved in converting hundreds of people in Hapur, Delhi, and Ghaziabad. Investigations suggested that the accused were enticing people into conversions through false promises of miraculous medical healing and monetary incentives.

The accused were charged under IPC Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious intent to outrage religious feelings) and 3(5) (common intention), as well as the provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

On December 16, journalist Swati Goel Sharma shared a thread on X detailing her ground investigation in Ghaziabad's Sewa Nagar colony. In a video posted by Sharma, one of the accused, Ravi, is seen defending himself, claiming that his government documents prove he remains a Hindu and has not participated in any conversion activities.

Sharma shared that she had visited a Jatav family's home, where she discovered that Ravi had embraced Christianity two years prior. Kajal, the wife of Ravi's brother Akash, informed Sharma that such "Sabhas" were held two to three times a week until the police conducted a raid and uncovered the conversion operation. “She said her family has not converted and that has been a source of confrontation between the two families,” Sharma reported.

Speaking to Swati Goel Sharma, Kajal said, “The house would be filled by outsiders who made a lot of noise while pretending to be trapped by Jinns. We would fear for our safety and lock ourselves inside a room till the meeting went on. Whenever we objected, it would lead to confrontation. After my husband had left for work, the couple would target me for harassment. When I was eight-months pregnant last year, they hit me. I could have suffered a miscarriage.”

Discussing how the accused, Ravi, came to be associated with the Christian missionaries. Kajal and the locals said, “It started with a rumour that Ravi had been trapped by evil spirits. On the recommendation of his sister, who had already started attending such gatherings, Ravi too joined those healing sessions (Changai Sabhas). After a few months, he was made to believe he had become free of ‘evil spirits’.”

The neighbors mentioned that after Ravi was allegedly freed from the so-called 'evil spirits,' he allowed Gerald to conduct healing sessions in his house in exchange for money.

Sharma also discussed the issue with BJP councillor Jai Kishen Pal, who revealed that Hindu activists had informed him about a conversion gathering taking place at the house. Pal then alerted the Nandgram police. “People questioned us: how can a conversion activity happen right under your nose? And they are right. Such activities are unacceptable.”

During her visit to the Sewa Nagar colony, Sharma discovered that, the previous year, local residents had protested against the construction of a church intended for new converts from nearby “bastis” in the predominantly Hindu area. As a result of their opposition, the construction was halted, and the site has since been sealed.

Swati observed that several houses displayed signs reading "Jesus saves you" on their walls and gates. While government records identified these families as Hindus, they professed devotion to "Yeshu, the purest soul that ever lived."

A similar incident was reported in March this year within the jurisdiction of the Kaushambi police station in Ghaziabad. Christian missionaries were accused of deceptively converting impoverished Hindus to Christianity. According to complaints filed by members of Hindu organizations, pamphlets promoting Christianity were distributed among economically disadvantaged Hindu families in the area, inviting them to gather at a specified location. The UP STF has since taken over the investigation.

(This Article was originally published by OpIndia)