Complaints of religious conversion targeting tribals and school children have emerged from Nilgiri and Theni districts in Tamil Nadu. Hindu outfits have alleged that pastor’s from Kochi are luring tribals with biryani and sweets to convert them to Christianity.

Paliyar, a Scheduled Tribe, people live in the reserved area of Meghamalai reserve forest in majority. Hindu outfits have discovered that pastors from Kochi have been visiting the tribal village Paliyankudi on Sundays and trying to convert the tribals to Christianity. They lodged a complaint with the Lower Camp police to take action against them.

The pastors have been reportedly luring the tribals with biryani and sweets and brainwashing them by distributing tracts. 47 Hindu families living in the village face conversion threat due to such missionary activities.

In other news, a pastor distributed Bibles to small boys in the village and tried to convert them. Vikram Joel, serving as a pastor in the Pentecostal church in Pandalur near Coonoor gathered around 40 boys in the church and tried to convert them. Vishwa Hindu Parishad had complained to the DSP about the pastor. Upon investigation police found the charges to be true and booked the pastor under relevant sections.

Only a few days ago, in a video that went viral on social media, a 9 year old boy had alleged that kids in his village are being lured with biryani and drinks to come to church. He also revealed that they were taught to not worship any other god but Jesus and told them to not follow their parents’ words. His sister and cousin fell for the propaganda and wanted to visit the church continuously despite their parents’ opposition.

Last month a pastor couple from Kerala were booked under the Karnataka Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2021 after they were caught trying to convert tribals in the coffee estates of Kodagu. In another incident, school children were taught Christian values and attempts to convert them through brainwashing on the pretext of summer camp were made in Madurai.