After establishing its roots firmly in South Indian states and tribal areas like Jharkhand, the Christian missionaries now have set their sight on Uttar Pradesh. In last few years, Uttar Pradesh has been the centre of discussion regarding incidents of mass illegal religious conversions. These incidents are having a deep impact on the social and cultural demography of the state. The latest case has come to light from Gomtinagar, one of the most posh areas of the capital Lucknow, where Hindu organisations have busted a mega Christian conversion racket.
Journalist Swami Goel Sharma made a detailed coverage of this incident through her posts in her X profile:
Three houses in the upmarket Bharwara Estate Colony, Gomti Nagar Extension, in Lucknow, quietly transformed into an unofficial church, gathering hundreds of Hindus for religious activities every Sunday. The illegal religious centre operated for seven years, unnoticed by most, until it was raided on February 9. Despite allegations of illegal conversions and a strong public outcry, authorities have yet to file an FIR, leaving many questions unanswered.
Details of the conversion racket
There has been a huge uproar over the matter of religious conversion in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. During the alleged prayer meeting going on in a house near Bharwara Estate of Gomti Nagar extension, locals registered strong protest, alleging religious conversion. According to them, a conspiracy was going on to convert Hindus into Christians. During this protest, locals raised slogans like “Religious conversion will not work”. Along with this, Hindu organisations have also lodged a written complaint regarding this matter in the nearest police station.
On February 9, 2025, Hindu activists, prompted by a tip-off from a concerned resident, arrived at the site and uncovered an unofficial ‘church’ operating inside three homes in the upscale residential colony. A Yeshu Prarthana Sabha, with over 200 Hindus in attendance, was underway when the raid took place. Police were called, and videos and photos of the protest circulated quickly.
In these videos, one can see children exiting the building after the raid, showing the scale of the congregation, which had grown over the years. Despite its location in an all-Hindu colony, the ‘church’ had been functioning quietly, catering to hundreds of Hindus, largely without raising suspicions until now.
A clandestine conversion club
Ritesh Mishra, a resident of the colony, had been one of the first to file a police complaint after discovering the extent of religious activities occurring in the houses. He revealed how the conversion centre began as a small gathering of just 6-10 people. Gradually, attendance rose to 100-200 people, turning the houses into a hub for religious conversion activities.
Upon further investigation, Ritesh found that the houses were being used as a church and that unapproved religious activities were taking place in a residential area. When the residents of the colony. raised objections, they were met with hostility. The doors were locked, and the dispute escalated to the point where police were called to break the lock and investigate the premises.
Rajeev Lal, who had moved into the colony seven years ago, was identified as the key figure behind the transformation of the homes into a religious centre. Described as a man who “rapidly grew rich,” Rajeev Lal purchased several properties in the area and covertly converted three houses into a church without any formal approval. According to reports, his plan appeared to be focused on driving out Hindu families and turning the colony into a centre for religious conversions.
A year before the raid, local resident Yogesh had confronted Rajeev Lal over derogatory comments made about Hindu deities during one of the gatherings. This confrontation led to a complete shutdown of communication between Rajeev and the residents. The doors of the property were locked, and entry was restricted to only those who had a reference or prior registration. Residents also raised concerns about the religious teachings at these gatherings, with some hearing that the teachings blasphemed Hindu gods, leading to even further tension.
Since the raid on February 9, there has been a continuous police presence in the colony to prevent further gatherings, particularly on Sundays. However, despite the clear indications of illegal religious activities, no FIR has been filed for alleged conversions. Police officers explained that the reason for not filing an FIR was because attendees claimed there was no “force” involved in the conversions. This has sparked debate within the community, with many questioning why no legal action has been taken, especially when the congregation operated without permission and consent from other residents.
Missionaries luring locals by offering crores worth flats in the area and other forms of deception
Hindu organisations have reacted strongly to this incident. While speaking to reporters, the national president of Hind Samrajya Party Kuldeep Tiwari alleged that a game of conversion was going on under the guise of a prayer meeting in the Kharagpur area of Gomtinagar. He asked how a crowd of 1000-2000 people gathered in the residential colony without permission. And how was a church constructed in a residential area without registration? They have demanded a serious investigation into the matter from the administration and warned that if it is not done, they will recite Hanuman Chalisa at the same place.
Kuldpeep also made shocking allegations against the missionaries. He told, “The missionaries have bought many nearby flats by luring neighbours and offering double and triple rates for their flats so that the church can be expanded. All of this is happening in a very planned manner. From the outside, these areas look like normal residential colonies, but in reality, all these flats are interconnected. This is why when the police reached there, some people were able to escape easily.”
He further said that a big hall had been built inside these flats, which also include a church. This is the place where the illicit activities of relogious conversion was going on under the guise of prayer meetings. He said, “All this is happening so secretly that no one even knows. Even the people living nearby have no clue.”
During a conversation, Kuldeep rejected the police’s statement that “evidence was not found”. He said, “150-200 local people have testified with us. A person named Ritesh Mishra was beaten up by the missionaries, music was being played in the church without permission, and a Bible was also recovered from there. The local people themselves are eyewitnesses to these incidents. Then what other evidence does the police need??”
Such activities in a high-profile area like Gomtinagar raise serious questions about the growing influence of missionaries in society and their hidden agenda. Hindu organizations allege that neighboring Hindus are being targeted and lured to convert to Christianity.
(This article is based on the X thread by Swati Goel Sharma)
