On March 3, Harish Singh was booked by Ikona Police in Shravasti district, Uttar Pradesh, under Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. Singh is accused of allegedly converting Hindus to Christianity under the guise of prayer meetings held in Bhagwanpur Bankat village.
The case was registered after Hindu organizations, including the Vishva Hindu Mahasangh and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), alerted police about weekly Christian prayer meetings where they claimed vulnerable individuals were being coerced into conversion. Singh is currently absconding, and the police have launched a search operation to locate him.
According to local residents, weekly prayer meetings were held every Sunday in a makeshift hut in a secluded area. Attendees included people from neighbouring districts such as Balrampur, Bahraich, and Gonda, most of whom came from non-Christian and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Villagers alleged that participants were encouraged to bring a Bible, and many admitted to buying one online. Some attendees claimed that the prayers helped them overcome physical and mental ailments, while Hindu activists accused Singh of making false promises that faith in Jesus Christ would provide relief from hardships.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint by Sub-Inspector Afzal Salim, who inspected the prayer site. According to the FIR, Singh allegedly convinced attendees that reading the Bible and invoking Jesus Christ could cure diseases and solve life problems.
When police visited Singh’s house, they found it locked. Neighbours reported that Singh’s family is from Punjab, and he frequently traveled between Punjab and Shravasti. Authorities believe the attendees of the meetings were primarily outsiders, and the preaching involved deceptive practices to push for conversion.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Ghanshyam Chaurasia confirmed that a case was registered based on video evidence provided by VHP activists. “We are investigating allegations that Singh was using faith healing as a pretext to convert people. A team led by the Additional SP is probing the matter,” he said.
Police suspect that Singh may have fled to Punjab, and a search team has been dispatched. Due to Shravasti’s proximity to the Nepal border, authorities are monitoring the area to prevent a possible cross-border escape.
