This week, I visited a colony in Ghaziabad where a conversion racket was being run in an all-Hindu area by a teacher from a local well-known missionary school with help of a government employee
Here’s what I found 🧵 x.com
Here’s what I found 🧵 x.com
The colony, Sewa Nagar, is home to 2,000 people from castes like Pal (gadaria), Valmiki, Jatav and Brahmin
There is a house called ‘Om Niwas’ owned by late Jagpal Singh Jatav. On ground floor lives his younger son Akash while on first floor lives his elder son Ravi
Ravi, a govt employee, converted to Christianity 2 years ago
There is a house called ‘Om Niwas’ owned by late Jagpal Singh Jatav. On ground floor lives his younger son Akash while on first floor lives his elder son Ravi
Ravi, a govt employee, converted to Christianity 2 years ago
On 23 Sept, police raided the first-floor of this house and found 150 people in a Yeshu Prarthana sabha (see video)
On complaint by an activist named Navin, Nandgram police filed an FIR against Ravi, Gerald Mathew Masih and three others
Police said they were found to be converting people “through false promises of medical healing through miracles and by luring them through money” (see press note)
On complaint by an activist named Navin, Nandgram police filed an FIR against Ravi, Gerald Mathew Masih and three others
Police said they were found to be converting people “through false promises of medical healing through miracles and by luring them through money” (see press note)
-Gerald, the pastor who was leading the session, teaches at Ingraham Institute, a well-known school in Ghaziabad
-Ravi, as can be seen in this video, tried to defend himself saying his government document is proof that he is still Hindu and was not involved in conversions
Anyway, after preliminary probe, the five men were booked under BNS sections 299 (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings) and 3(5) (common intension), along with Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024
-Ravi, as can be seen in this video, tried to defend himself saying his government document is proof that he is still Hindu and was not involved in conversions
Anyway, after preliminary probe, the five men were booked under BNS sections 299 (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings) and 3(5) (common intension), along with Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Kajal, who lives on ground floor and is Akash’s wife, told me such sabhas would happen twice or thrice every week before coming to the stop after the 23 Sep raid
She said her family has not converted and that has been a source of confrontation between the two families
She 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 miscarriage.”
She said even gave a complaint to police but nothing happened
She said her family has not converted and that has been a source of confrontation between the two families
She 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 miscarriage.”
She said even gave a complaint to police but nothing happened
I asked her how did Ravi get in touch with missionaries and become an evengalist himself
Kajal and neighbours said it started with a rumour that Ravi had been trapped by evil spirits. On recommendation of his sister, who had already started attending such gatherings, Ravi too joined those healing sessions
After a few months, he was made to believe he had become “changa” (meaning ‘good’ in Punjabi), that is, free of evil spirits
Neighbours (pic attached) believe that Ravi then offered his house for healing sessions to be led by Gerald in lieu of money
Kajal and neighbours said it started with a rumour that Ravi had been trapped by evil spirits. On recommendation of his sister, who had already started attending such gatherings, Ravi too joined those healing sessions
After a few months, he was made to believe he had become “changa” (meaning ‘good’ in Punjabi), that is, free of evil spirits
Neighbours (pic attached) believe that Ravi then offered his house for healing sessions to be led by Gerald in lieu of money
I met Jai Kishen Pal, councillor from this ward, who is associated with the BJP
He said that activists had contacted him after getting a tip-off about the conversion sabha in that house. Pal, in turn, contacted Nandgram police. “People questioned us: how can a conversion activity happen right under your nose? And they are right. Such activities are unacceptable.”
He said that activists had contacted him after getting a tip-off about the conversion sabha in that house. Pal, in turn, contacted Nandgram police. “People questioned us: how can a conversion activity happen right under your nose? And they are right. Such activities are unacceptable.”
Walking in this colony, I found that last year, residents had protested and stopped a new church from being built for new converts from nearby bastis
It was also happening in an all-Hindu street. The property has since been sealed
Here is a view of the sealed property and the street
It was also happening in an all-Hindu street. The property has since been sealed
Here is a view of the sealed property and the street
I went to the bastis nearby and found several houses bearing the signs of ‘Jesus saves you’.
Such families said they were Hindus in government records but had turned to “Yeshu, the purest soul that ever lived” x.com
Such families said they were Hindus in government records but had turned to “Yeshu, the purest soul that ever lived” x.com
So this is the state of things
A similar racket was found operating in an upmarket Meerut colony recently. Our organisation @AgniSamaj worked relentlessly for weeks and managed to bring back 50 families back, and stopped them from going to such fake healing sessions
Clearly, a lot remains to be done
A similar racket was found operating in an upmarket Meerut colony recently. Our organisation @AgniSamaj worked relentlessly for weeks and managed to bring back 50 families back, and stopped them from going to such fake healing sessions
Clearly, a lot remains to be done
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