Pastor, son among three arrested in UP’s Fatehpur over alleged conversion bid

Three people, including a pastor and his son, were arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Fatehpur district following allegations of religious conversion activities at a local church, police said after a protest by Bajrang Dal activists led to heightened tensions in the area.

The arrests followed a demonstration outside a church in Deviganj, where members of the right-wing group gathered after receiving information about an alleged conversion attempt. Police intervened promptly, brought the situation under control, and took three individuals present inside the church into custody for questioning.

Based on a complaint filed by a local resident who claimed to have witnessed the alleged conversion, an FIR was registered at Radha Nagar police station against 10 persons — three named and seven unidentified — for their purported involvement in conversion-related activities.

“We have arrested three persons named in the FIR — David Gladwin, the pastor; his son, Abhishek Gladwin; and Johan Vishwas alias K K Bangali,” said Vinod Kumar Maurya, Station House Officer of Radha Nagar police station.

He added that police teams are searching for the remaining accused, who are currently absconding, and denied allegations that any of those detained were assaulted by members of the public.

The case has been registered under Sections 299 (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, police said.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad state vice-president Virendra Pandey said Bajrang Dal workers visited the church after receiving information about alleged conversion activities and informed the police after confirming the details. He claimed police recorded the names and addresses of those present at the church and denied that anyone was assaulted. Bajrang Dal is the youth wing of the VHP.

According to the police, they were alerted on December 28 afternoon about an argument outside the church, where members of a right-wing organisation had assembled. Officers assured the crowd that the matter would be investigated and took the three persons inside the church into custody for questioning.

The FIR was lodged following a complaint by local resident Devprakash Paswan, who alleged that he and two others — Neeraj Paswan and Sushil Raidas — were called to the church at around 10 am on Sunday while prayers and hymns were underway.

In his complaint, Paswan alleged that the accused promised money, household items, employment and free education for children to those willing to convert to Christianity, and claimed they offered him Rs 1,100 to remain silent when he objected. He further alleged that objectionable remarks were made about his deity, and that the accused threatened those who opposed the alleged conversion.

Paswan also claimed that the accused had earlier visited his village, Achgawa, in small groups, urging residents to attend church services every Sunday and promising ₹1,100 for every person brought to the church.

Police said investigations are ongoing and further action will be taken based on the findings.