Thread by @swati_gs

How did 3 houses in a row in an upmarket all-Hindu residential colony quietly turned into a religious centre, gathering hundreds of Hindus every Sunday for conversion, without anyone raising voice for 7 years?

I visited the colony in Lucknow today to find out. A thread 🧵

Exactly three weeks ago, on 9 Feb, a Yeshu Prarthana Sabha with 200+ Hindus in attendance was raided in Bharwara Estate Colony, Gomti Nagar Extension.

Hindu activists, acting on a tip-off from a resident, reached the spot at 10 am. Police were called.

What they found: An unofficial ‘church’ operating inside three converted houses, built over a seven-year period.

Here are videos and pictures of protest that day. Children can also be seen coming out of the Sabha after raid

Here is a video of a Hindu woman telling protesters she had come for “treatment”

I met Ritesh Mishra, who had complained to police that day. He told me what unfolded on 9 Feb and how the structure was, without doubt, a centre for illegal conversions of Hindus

As per Ritesh, one Rajeev Lal moved in the colony seven years ago. He “rapidly grew rich” and bought several properties in the colony. Converted three houses into an unofficial church without permission. And how the plan seemed to be to drive Hindus out and turn the colony into a conversion centre, unopposed.

Watch:

When I was walking towards the controversial building today, a policeman on a motorcycle came and stopped me, saying it was locked from inside and the owner was temporarily living elsewhere.

Pictures of the building:

Yogesh told me the building was off-limits for residents as well. And entry on Sundays was strictly by reference or prior registration

Yogesh told me he had confronted the property owner Rajeev Lal a year ago over “insult of Hindu deities” he heard during a gathering and, after that, gate was shut on them

I met Sahaj Ram Yadav, who lives just outside the colony, admitting he attended the ‘religious centre’ once - for “treatment”

Asked if he knew it belonged to a different religion than one he practices, he said he knew that God is worshipped in several forms like Allah Miyan, Bhagwan and Yeshu and that if he saw benefit, he would change (I later sat with him and his family on the issue)

Since 9 Feb, there has been constant deployment of police to stop further gatherings, especially on Sundays. A police officer told me it was because they found that the centre was operating without permission or registration

But any FIR for illegal conversion? He said no, because the attendees said there was no “force” used

Here is a video of Ritesh Mishra telling me how no FIR was filed

So that’s it. The charge made against Rajeev Lal and others is that they were operating a religious centre without permission and without consent of other residents, cannot continue doing it. No case.

To all the haters asking me what is so wrong in such conversions and why I am reporting this, well I don’t just report!

@AgniSamaj, which I lead, has carried out Swagat Yajnas and brought back Hindus in four similar cases already 😊

You too can support us. Will give access to Sanskrit and Veda course and truly heal you: agnisamaj.com/payment