Ghaziabad: The Ghaziabad Police have arrested two individuals, including a pastor, for allegedly attempting to convert members of Scheduled Caste communities by offering inducements, following a complaint filed by a Bajrang Dal member. Authorities confirmed on Monday that the arrests were made on Sunday after an investigation was initiated at the Crossings Republik police station.
Pastor Vinod Kunjumon, originally from Kerala and currently residing in Sahibabad, and Premchand Jatav, a resident of Rahul Vihar in Ghaziabad, were taken into custody. The arrests followed a complaint filed by Prabal Gupta, who identified himself as a member of the Bajrang Dal. He alleged that religious conversions were being carried out under the guise of Sunday prayer meetings.
Police stated that while the complaint accuses the pastor of converting people from Scheduled Caste communities through offers of cash and material inducements, the investigation is ongoing, and no final conclusion has yet been reached.
When the media visited Rahul Vihar on Monday, the house where the alleged conversions were said to be taking place was locked, and its gate was found damaged. Local residents, however, expressed disbelief at the allegations, asserting that no conversions were ever conducted at the premises.
Satish Anand, a 54-year-old neighbour, said Jatav built the house nearly three decades ago and had only been hosting prayer meetings on Sundays, attended by residents from Rahul Vihar and Buddh Vihar. “He never asked anyone to convert,” Anand was quoted as saying. Another local resident mentioned that Jatav previously ran a dairy business and supplied buffalo milk in the area. A signboard was reportedly installed three years ago, after which locals began referring to the house as a church.
According to Gupta’s complaint, Jatav converted to Christianity several years ago and started organising weekly Sunday prayer meetings at his home. Gupta alleged these meetings were used as a platform for Pastor Vinod to persuade others to change their religion. He also claimed that Bajrang Dal members were attacked when they attempted to oppose these activities.
Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (threats involving death), and 352 (breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. In addition, a relevant section of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, has also been invoked.
Preeti Garg, Station House Officer at Crossings Republik police station, confirmed the arrests, stating that further legal action is underway and that proceedings will be based on the outcome of the evidence collected during the investigation.