Archive · 31 Dec 2025
Pastors arrested in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra over conversion allegations
In two separate incidents, pastors and their associates were arrested in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra over allegations of forced religious conversions.
In Uttar Pradesh, a pastor and his son were arrested after members of the Bajrang Dal protested outside a church, alleging that the pastor and others were forcing people to convert to Christianity by offering money and other incentives.
In Maharashtra, a pastor from Kerala and seven others were arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments after a man accused them of offering money to people for conversion to Christianity.
The police in both cases registered charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
The Kerala Chief Minister criticized the arrests, terming them deeply disturbing and part of a worrying pattern of targeting minorities to fuel polarization.
Pastors and their associates were arrested in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra over allegations of forced religious conversions.
In Uttar Pradesh, a pastor and his son were arrested after protests by the Bajrang Dal outside a church.
In Maharashtra, a pastor from Kerala and seven others were arrested on charges of hurting religious sentiments.
The police in both cases registered charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.
The Kerala Chief Minister criticized the arrests in Maharashtra, terming them deeply disturbing and part of a worrying pattern of targeting minorities.
- Who
- Pastors and their associates in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
- What
- Allegations of forced religious conversions and hurting religious sentiments
- When
- The incidents occurred on Sunday and December 30, with arrests reported on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively
- Where
- Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh and Amravati, Maharashtra
- Why
- The arrests were made following allegations of forced religious conversions and hurting religious sentiments
- Location
- Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh and Amravati, Maharashtra
- Arrested Individuals
- David Gladwin, Abhishek Gladwin, Johan Vishwas alias KK Bangali, Ritesh Bondre, Anandkumar Karri, Sudhir William, Vikram Sande, and four women
- Complainants
- Devprakash Paswan and Lakshman Shede
- Charges Filed Under
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act
- Allegations
- Forced religious conversions, offering money and incentives for conversion, hurting religious sentiments
- Organizations Involved
- Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad
- Date of Incident
- Sunday (specific date not mentioned) and December 30
Sources
UP: Pastor among three held after Bajrang Dal protest alleging forced religious conversions
Malayali Christian priest and his wife arrested in Nagpur over forced conversion
Kerala Pastor Among 8 Held in Maharashtra Over Religious Conversion Bid
Kerala CM, LoP slam arrest of Christian priest from state in Maharashtra
Kerala couple among 7 held in Maha over forced conversion
'Worrying Trend': Pinarayi Vijayan, Congress Slam Pastor's Arrest In Maharashtra
