Pastor and Two Others Arrested in UP for Alleged Illegal Religious Conversion of Vulnerable Hindus

In Bareilly, authorities have detained three individuals, including a pastor, on charges of allegedly persuading impoverished and disadvantaged Hindus to convert to Christianity.

Police officials report that the accused were purportedly offering incentives to vulnerable community members to facilitate religious conversion.

Investigators have initiated an inquiry to establish the duration of these alleged conversion activities and identify all involved parties.

Baradari Station House Officer (SHO) Dhananjay Pandey confirmed that a case was registered on Sunday following complaints from Rishabh Thakur of Subhash Nagar and Nirdosh Rathore from the Nakatia area under Cantt police station jurisdiction.

The complainants alleged that individuals affiliated with a Christian missionary had leased property in the Super City area, where they were reportedly pressuring Hindu women and children to convert during religious gatherings and prayer sessions.

The First Information Report (FIR) was filed at Baradari police station under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and sections 3 and 5(1) of the UP Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021. The accused named in the FIR include Pastor Sumit Masey, Amit Masey, Sarita, and Satyapal, all Bareilly residents.

While Pastor Sumit Masey, Amit Masey (also known as Akshay Masey), and Sarita (wife of Devendra) were arrested and imprisoned on Monday, Satyapal remains at large.

According to police, during questioning, the pastor reportedly admitted that they specifically targeted individuals from economically disadvantaged, Dalit, and socially marginalized communities by promising improved living conditions and faith healing to persuade them toward conversion.

Police claim numerous women and children were allegedly converted through these methods.

SHO Pandey stated that preliminary investigations indicated the group attempted to influence individuals psychologically and emotionally before introducing them to Christian teachings and religious texts.