Samba Times Special
Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir – October 27, 2025
In a swift escalation of a simmering controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday registered an FIR against unidentified Christian missionaries accused of promoting religious conversions in rural Kathua district. The case, filed under relevant sections of the BNS including those related to promoting enmity between religious groups and outraging religious feelings, comes just days after a violent mob attack on a group of preachers from Kerala, which exposed deep-seated suspicions over proselytization activities in the region.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua, Mohita Sharma, directed the registration of the case following complaints from villagers in Juthana, a remote hamlet in the district’s upper reaches. Locals alleged that the missionaries were systematically targeting impoverished families, promising them deliverance from poverty, illness, and hardship in exchange for embracing Christianity. “The investigation is underway, and strict action will be taken against those found guilty,” SSP Sharma stated, emphasizing the police’s commitment to maintaining communal harmony.
The Spark: Mob Attack and Police Suspensions
The incident traces back to Thursday, October 24, when a van carrying eight Christian preachers from Kerala was waylaid by a group of locals near Juthana village. En route to a prayer meeting, the missionaries were accused of engaging in conversion efforts during social gatherings in the area. An irate mob smashed the vehicle’s windows and windscreen with sticks, while some passengers were reportedly manhandled. A video of the assault, which captured several policemen standing by idly, quickly went viral on social media, igniting public outrage.
In response, SSP Sharma launched an internal probe and suspended eight personnel—including a sub-inspector and seven special police officers—for alleged negligence. One individual, identified as Ravindra Singh Thela, has been arrested in connection with the attack, with police hunting for three to four others involved. A preliminary FIR was lodged against the assailants on October 25, but the focus has now shifted to the missionaries themselves.
Allegations of Deceptive Tactics
Villagers’ complaints paint a picture of calculated outreach. According to the FIR, the missionaries allegedly distributed “objectionable material” disparaging Hindu deities and traditions, while offering financial incentives, free medical aid, and promises of “miraculous healing” to vulnerable families. Reports suggest these efforts were masked as community welfare programs, including prayer sessions and aid distribution drives, to build trust before broaching the topic of conversion.
Such methods echo broader patterns observed in conversion activities across India, particularly in economically challenged regions like Jammu and Kashmir. Critics, including Hindu organizations, claim missionaries employ “inculturation”—adopting local customs to subtly erode faith—alongside psychological tactics like faith healing sessions where “miracles” are staged to attribute ailments to “demonic influences” from other religions. In one documented case from Kerala missionaries, audio evidence reportedly captured preachers insulting Hindu gods to demean existing beliefs, a tactic allegedly used to foster disillusionment.
These approaches, proponents argue, prey on the desperate: rural poor grappling with unemployment, inadequate healthcare, and seasonal hardships in Kathua’s hilly terrain. “They come with bags of rice and medicine, whispering that our gods have forsaken us,” one anonymous villager told local media. “It’s not faith; it’s a transaction.”
Echoes from Samba: A Pattern Emerges
This is not an isolated flare-up. Just over a month ago, on September 20, members of some Social Organizations and other Hindu groups staged a large-scale protest in neighboring Samba district against similar alleged conversion drives. Demonstrators submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, demanding stringent action against missionaries who purportedly used village feasts and youth camps as fronts for proselytization. The Samba agitation highlighted fears of demographic shifts in the Dogra heartland, where Christianity remains a minuscule minority.
Protests culminated in calls for stricter enforcement of anti-conversion laws, though Jammu and Kashmir lacks a dedicated statute like those in Uttar Pradesh or Madhya Pradesh. Activists handed over evidence of “luring” tactics, including cash handouts and promises of overseas job opportunities, mirroring the Kathua allegations.
Who Funds the Mission? Foreign Shadows and Rising Scrutiny
At the heart of these controversies lies a web of international funding that sustains such operations. Christian missionary activities in India are largely bankrolled by global networks, with over $50 million in foreign contributions flowing to groups like the Missionaries of Charity in recent years, per government disclosures. Key sources include evangelical churches in the United States and Europe, as well as NGOs under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
In 2025 alone, organizations like Christian Aid Mission and the Great Commission Fund have channeled millions into South Asia for “outreach” programs, including sewing machines, medical camps, and church plants—often blurring lines between humanitarian aid and evangelism.
However, India’s government has intensified FCRA crackdowns, revoking licenses for dozens of Christian NGOs amid accusations of using funds for “composite culture subversion.” Critics link these efforts to a broader geopolitical agenda, with some U.S.-based donors explicitly aiming to “convert 100 million Indians” through strategic philanthropy, as revealed in leaked missionary strategies from the early 2010s that persist today.
Local voices in Kathua decry this as cultural imperialism. “Who stands behind them? Not God, but dollars from abroad,” said a VHP spokesperson during a peaceful rally in Kathua town on Sunday, where over 200 gathered to demand a J&K anti-conversion bill.
Path Forward: Investigation and Calls for Dialogue
As police deepen their probe—questioning villagers, reviewing distributed materials, and tracing the missionaries’ origins—the incident hoighlights the fragile interfaith fabric in Jammu and Kashmir. No arrests have been made in the conversion FIR yet, but authorities have urged restraint to prevent further violence.
Christian leaders, meanwhile, have condemned the attack as “persecution” and called for protection of religious freedoms, drawing parallels to rising anti-conversion legislation in states like Rajasthan. With tensions high, community elders in Juthana are mediating to restore calm.
This case serves as a stark reminder of India’s ongoing battle over faith, aid, and identity—one where promises of salvation collide with fears of erasure. As SSP Sharma’s team sifts through the evidence, the region watches closely for justice that heals rather than divides.
