– Akhilesh Tripathi
Lucknow: Christian missionaries have established a strong presence in Uttar Pradesh and are now actively targeting Muslims for conversion. On March 9, the police uncovered a large-scale conversion racket and arrested several persons involved in these activities.
Since the BJP came to power in both the central government and Uttar Pradesh, Christian missionaries have altered their conversion strategies. Previously, their primary focus was on converting Hindus. However, due to the influence of Hindutva forces and stricter oversight, they have shifted their attention to Muslims, whom they perceive as a more accessible target.
Christian missionaries strategically identify economically weaker Muslim communities. Their operatives first assess the financial struggles and social vulnerabilities of these groups. After gathering information, they approach these individuals with financial and material aid, gradually drawing them into their fold.
Once a relationship is established, the missionaries invite them to Sunday prayer meetings, where they introduce them to Christian teachings and emphasise how conversion can improve their lives. Over time, sustained contact and additional incentives persuade them to adopt Christianity. To avoid suspicion, new converts are often advised to retain their Muslim names, ensuring that conversions proceed without external resistance.
The first documented case of Muslims being converted to Christianity emerged in 2020 in Pilibhit, where several Muslim families embraced Christianity. Subsequently, the phenomenon spread to Maharajganj, near Nepal border, where hundreds of families in Jogiyabari forest area have converted. Similar conversions have been reported in Mathura Nagar, Sultanpur, Ambedkar Nagar, and Siddharthnagar.
In many cases, Muslim men who have converted abandon their beards and adopt Christian worship practices, including placing images of Jesus Christ in their homes. In the Basti division, five Muslim families recently converted but retained their original names, illustrating missionaries’ covert tactics.
A major breakthrough occurred in 2022 when the Special Task Force (STF) raided Fatehpur and exposed a large-scale conversion operation funded by international sources. Investigations revealed that over ₹60 crore had been funnelled from the U.S., U.K., and Canada to support these activities.
The mastermind behind the racket, Prashant Masih, evaded arrest and later resurfaced in Sitapur, where he re-established his network. In Feb. 2025, six Muslim families in Sitapur’s Hargoan, Katariya (Sidhauli), and Kamalapur areas converted to Christianity. In response, the STF intensified its crackdown, issuing notices to Prashant Masih regarding his finances and operational network.
Christian missionary activities have extended across the Awadh region, including Amethi, Sultanpur, Raebareli, Balrampur, and Shravasti. Many converted Muslims in Balrampur and Shravasti belong to communities traditionally dependent on street performances for livelihood. Missionaries exploit their economic hardships by offering monthly stipends, free education for their children in convent schools, and medical assistance. Consequently, these families abandon Islamic practices and adopt Christian worship.
Before targeting UP, Christian missionaries successfully converted a significant number of Muslims in Nepal, particularly in the Terai and western regions. The Christian population in Nepal, which was negligible before 1950, has now exceeded 400,000.
Missionaries are leveraging these conversions to influence Muslim relatives across the Nepal-UP border. Many converted Muslims in Nepal actively persuade their Indian family members to embrace Christianity, using financial incentives as bait.
On March 9, a major conversion racket was exposed, leading to nine arrests across UP.
In Sitapur, police arrested three individuals – Chenda Dukpa (Alipur, WB), Sandeep Kashyap (Lucknow) and Nikson Baksh (Unnao) – from Siddhauli.
The arrests followed an FIR filed by Abhishek Kumar of Kat Sarainya village, who alleged that missionaries had approached his uncle with conversion offers. Under the leadership of Inspector Balwant Shahi, the police conducted swift raids, seizing four mobile phones for further investigation.
A similar crackdown occurred in Amethi’s Jagdishpur area, where police raided a Christian prayer meeting in Palpur village, detaining over 100 attendees. Acting on a complaint from Ashwani Pandey, priest of South-Facing Hanuman Temple, the police arrested Kishore (Lucknow), his wife Rinki, Preeti (Jamo), Nisha (Poore Radhika Tiwari), Kalpi and Pushpa (Mubarakpur).
Led by CO Atul Singh, Tehsildar Rahul Singh, Naib Tehsildar Prashant Singh, and Inspector Dhirendra Kumar Yadav, the raid resulted in the seizure of Christian literature. Due to the timely intervention, no conversions occurred.
Intelligence and security agencies have submitted reports to the central government, warning about the long-term implications of these conversions. They caution that large-scale conversions could fuel tensions between Christian and Muslim communities.
LIU’s former S.I.S. K. Tiwari has expressed grave concerns: “The activities of Christian missionaries pose a serious threat. Their aggressive conversion efforts could lead to communal conflicts, which must be prevented at all costs.”
As conversion activities continue across Uttar Pradesh, law enforcement agencies remain on high alert to curb the influence of Christian missionaries and their covert operations.
