Archive · 11 Jan 2026
Uttar Pradesh Arrests in Religious Conversion Racket
In Uttar Pradesh, police arrested three people who were tricking poor and marginalized families into converting to Christianity.
They did this by offering help and training during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The accused ran a center that taught skills like sewing and carpentry, but secretly they were also teaching Christianity and converting people.
Police found out because someone complained, and now they are investigating how the money for this was coming in, even from other states and possibly from foreign countries.
The police are still looking into it and might make more arrests.
Three individuals were arrested for running a religious conversion racket in Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh.
The accused exploited Covid-era distress by offering vocational training and assistance to gain trust and convert Hindus to Christianity.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case, which revealed inter-district, inter-state, and possible foreign funding links.
The accused operated under the banner of the Navakanti Society and targeted economically weak and Scheduled Caste families.
The police are examining documents and financial records to determine the extent of conversions and the source of funds.
- Who
- Three individuals: Daniel Sharad Singh, Pastor Hariom Tyagi, and Savitri Sharma
- What
- Arrests made for coercing Hindus to convert to Christianity using Covid-era relief and vocational training as a cover
- When
- 10th January
- Where
- Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh
- Why
- To exploit economic distress during Covid-19 and convert vulnerable Hindus to Christianity
- Date of Arrests
- 10th January
- Location
- Kanpur Dehat, Uttar Pradesh
- Accused Individuals
- Daniel Sharad Singh, Pastor Hariom Tyagi, Savitri Sharma
- Organization Involved
- Navakanti Society
- Legal Charges
- Sections 3 and 5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
- Investigation Team
- Special Investigation Team (SIT)
- Registration Location of Navakanti Society
- Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh
- Number of Handpumps Installed
- 50