Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh: An illegal conversion racket was busted in Bareilly last month, exposing how self-styled pastors disguise proselytisation as “satsang” and worship of “saccha parmeshwar” to lure unsuspecting Hindus.
A video from the police raid shows officers questioning a man addressing a group of women inside a rented house. When confronted, the man replies: “We are just doing satsang.”
A woman, an accomplice of the pastor, said that those gathered were worshipping “saccha parmeshwar” and “prabhu” and were doing so of their own will.
Investigation revealed that the house was rented by a family from Mau district that converted to Christianity long ago.
The family head and pastor, Lalji, has now been arrested. Police reportedly recovered copies of Bibles, proselytisation pamphlets, notebooks and prayer calendars from the site, establishing it as a conversion centre.
Details of Police Case
An FIR (No. 559/2025) was registered at Faridpur Thana, Bareilly on 13 July.
The complainant, Sunil Kumar, in his written statement to police, said that Lalji was enticing women, children, and poor Hindus into conversion by insulting Hindu gods and glorifying Jesus Christ. He further alleged that inducements like cash, job promises and housing benefits were being offered, possibly funded by foreign sources.
Sunil Kumar wrote:
“On 13 July 2025, at around 10:30 a.m., I and my colleagues attended the gathering where the pastor mocked Hindu gods and praised Jesus Christ. Later, participants were given water as part of a ritual and urged to abandon Hindu dharma and accept Christianity. Therefore, I request strict action against those organising these illegal conversions.”
The Accused: Lalji’s Background
During interrogation, Lalji reportedly confessed that he had converted from Hinduism to Christianity about 15 years ago. A native of Mau district, Lalji revealed that in 2008, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour and admitted to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi where some doctors prayed to Jesus for his recovery and his health improved.
Lalji says he believed it to be a miracle and changed his religion. Since then, he had been living among Hindu families, targeting the poor and vulnerable through weekly gatherings.
Every Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm, Lalji would organise prayer meetings, where poor Hindu families were invited, given sermons and persuaded to convert.
Police Suspicions
it is speculated that Lalji may have already converted several families over the last five years of his residence in Faridpur.
Faridpur SHO Radheshyam told the media:
“The accused has been sent to jail. Over the last five years, he has gathered thousands of families in prayer meetings and encouraged them to convert to Christianity. We suspect many families have already been converted. The matter is under investigation.”
The Larger Pattern
This case highlights how deceptive language – using familiar Hindu terms like satsang and parmeshwar – is weaponised to trick Hindus into abandoning their faith, besides hateful propaganda against Hindu customs and beliefs. The “house church” model allows conversion mafias to operate discreetly, away from public scrutiny, until exposed by vigilant citizens.
