On Sunday, March 31st, a large religious conversion racket was uncovered in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Around 110 Hindu men and women were being transported in two buses to a church in Unnao for conversion to Christianity. The accused were promising these individuals better marriage prospects, job opportunities, improved medical facilities, and financial aid of Rs 50,000 if they converted.
The Kanpur Police arrested two individuals accused of running this conversion syndicate: Williams, a church priest, and Deepak Morris. They have been charged under the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance 2021. According to the FIR, the converts were instructed to remove the statues of Hindu gods and goddesses from their homes.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Coloneganj) Mahesh Kumar stated that the accused promised Rs 50,000 each to residents of Kanpur’s slums, including Nawabganj, Armapur, and Kohna, if they converted to Christianity. They also assured jobs and help finding marriage partners for the unmarried.
Bajrang Dal workers learned about the conversion plans and stopped the buses near the Boat Club of Nawabganj police station in Kanpur. They questioned the passengers, who revealed they were being taken to Unnao for conversion. The police were alerted and stopped the buses at a checkpoint.
Upon interrogation, it was confirmed that the passengers were from various parts of Kanpur and were being taken to a church in Unnao for a late-night conversion ceremony. These individuals belonged to weaker sections of society.
One of the rescued individuals, Sanjay Valmiki, filed a complaint against Williams and Morris. Sanjay, a resident of Armapur, said his wife was the first to be influenced into converting. He was pressured to convert, with promises that his problems would be resolved if he became a Christian.
Sanjay reported, “Williams and Morris told me that converting to Christianity and worshiping their Lord would solve all my problems. They lured my wife, and now she doesn’t want to live with me unless I convert.” He was told to remove Hindu idols from his home and that the church would provide financial and medical aid. They also claimed that holy water from the church would bring blessings if applied to his eyes.
While the police are investigating others involved in the forced conversions, Bajrang Dal worker Krishna Tiwari reported that the Nawabganj police released the accused after community members protested at the police station. The police issued a notice under section 41 of the IPC and released the accused.
