India — More than 10 Christians were recently arrested in different parts of the northern state of Uttar Pradesh (UP) on charges of illegal religious conversions under the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Act.

These arrests are part of an escalating pattern of intimidating Christians under the controversial anti-conversion law that was amended last year, giving sweeping powers to UP authorities to arrest anyone accused of conversion based on complaints by random individuals not related to the victims.

Including the latest arrests, more than 30 pastors and other Christians have been detained under the anti-conversion law so far this year. In most of these arrests, the complaints against the accused were filed by representatives of fringe and militant right-wing groups who call themselves “protectors of the Hindu religion.”

On Feb. 22 Pastor Vijay Singh and two other men, identified as Ajeet and Ravi Kumar, and a woman, Sushma, were arrested from a pastor’s house in Sandi Nagin village in Raebareli district. One media outlet said that the four were part of a “gang involved in converting minors.”

The police alleged that they had received complaints of Christian missionaries organizing prayer meetings and luring people with incentives, including money, and attracting children with candy and pencils.

In another incident in the same Raebareli district, police went to the residence of one pastor but when they did not find him, they took his son into custody.

In another incident in district Sitapur, Pastor Suresh Chand, his wife Nutan Kumari, and four other believers Meena Devi, Uttam Balmiki, Vinit Kumar Redas, and Ladli Devi, were taken into custody during a Sunday worship service where 400 people were present.

Local media reported this incident as a “major religious conversion case” in Sitapur district. The Hindi media wrote that the situation was exposed by the Bajrang Dal activists, which led to chaos. The Christians allegedly held three Bajrang Dal workers as hostages till the police arrived and rescued them. Local Christians have denied this claim.

“The anti-conversion law has become a convenient tool to criminalize routine worship activities,” said a Christian advocate, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Christian leaders have alleged that strangely, the police are using the ubiquitous Holy Bible found in all Christian homes as evidence for conversions. It has now become dangerous for Christians to host prayer gatherings in their homes, also, they added.
Sources:persecution

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ശാസ്താംകോട്ട: ഐപിസി ശാസ്താംകോട്ട സെന്ററിന് പുതിയ ഭാരവാഹികളെ തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു.
ഭാരവാഹികൾ: പാസ്റ്റർ പി.എം തോമസ് (സെന്റർ മിനിസ്റ്റർ), പാസ്റ്റർ ശമുവേൽ ജോസഫ് (വൈസ് പ്രസിഡന്റ്), പാസ്റ്റർ റെജി പി.ജി (സെക്രട്ടറി), പാസ്റ്റർ ജോൺ വൈ മത്തായി (ജോ.സെക്രട്ടറി), പാസ്റ്റർ സാബു സി. തോമസ് (ട്രഷറർ), ബ്രദർ റോബർട്ട് റെജി (പബ്ലിസിറ്റി കൺവീനർ) എന്നിവരെയും, കമ്മിറ്റി അംഗങ്ങളായി പാസ്റ്റർ അച്ചൻകുഞ്ഞ്, പാസ്റ്റർ ജെ ഫ്രാൻസിസ് , ബ്രദർ ജയൻ എന്നിവരെയും തിരഞ്ഞെടുത്തു.
Sources:gospelmirror

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A Christian couple in India’s northern state of Uttar Pradesh, who were sentenced to five years in prison for alleged attempted conversion, have been released on bail. Christians maintain that the evidence presented in court did not substantiate the charges of conversion, but their acquittal is expected to take a long time.

The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court granted them bail last month, and they exited prison weeks later, reported the U.K.-based group Christian Solidarity Worldwide.

Authorities convicted Jose and Sheeja Pappachan on Jan. 22 under Uttar Pradesh’s “anti-conversion” law, the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, and imposed fines of 25,000 rupees (roughly $300) each.

During the trial, officials claimed the couple orchestrated large-scale inducements to convert low-caste Dalit residents, specifically during an event on Christmas Day in 2022. The police relied on eyewitness accounts and a complaint filed by a state legislator from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Prosecutors also invoked sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In defense statements presented in court, Jose and Sheeja said they only promoted education, organized community meals and distributed Bibles without compelling anyone to change their beliefs. They also denied luring participants with financial benefits. The couple maintained that they merely urged participants to avoid alcohol and to engage in children’s education.

“While CSW is glad that Jose and Sheeja Pappachan were granted bail so soon after their conviction, the couple will have to continue to fight for their acquittal,” said CSW President Mervyn Thomas. “In many cases, this process can take years due to the poorly defined nature of these laws, often prolonging the suffering of those who have been falsely accused,” he explained.

CSW called on authorities in Uttar Pradesh “to take swift action to process the cases of all those currently facing charges of forced conversion, and ultimately to acquit them in recognition of the unconstitutionality of the anti-conversion law.”

Despite the constitutional protection of freedom of religion, 12 Indian states have enacted anti-conversion statutes, officially aimed at preventing forced conversions. However, these laws broadly define prohibited activities, placing nearly all forms of outreach or evangelism under legal scrutiny.

Currently, at least 80 Christians remain in prison in Uttar Pradesh alone on similar charges.

The couple represents one of the first reported instances where individuals were convicted and imprisoned under this legislation for alleged coercive conversion.

A.C. Michael, a national coordinator for the Delhi-based group United Christian Forum, has monitored multiple cases involving Christians accused of forcibly converting others. He told UCA News previously: “The conviction for a suspected attempt to convert will not stand the scrutiny of a higher court.”

The Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law, amended in 2024, allows third-party involvement in suspected conversion matters, whereas earlier provisions restricted complaints to alleged victims or their immediate relatives.

The UCF documented over 800 incidents of threats or attacks against Christians across India last year.
Sources:Christian Post

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