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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