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Ghaziabad cops arrest pastor for ‘religious conversion’ on Bajrang Dal man’s complaint

According to police, Pastor Vinod Kunjumon hails from Kerala and currently lives in Sahibabad. The other arrested man is Premchand Jatav, a resident of Rahul Vihar in Ghaziabad. They were arrested on Sunday.

ghaziabad, pastors arrested, religious conversions, indian expressAccording to the police, Manish collected biometric scans of people to give them SIM cards, but would then claim that the scans didn't work (Representational Photo)

The Ghaziabad Police arrested two men, including a pastor, for allegedly attempting to convert members of the Scheduled Caste (SC) by offering inducements, said officers on Monday. The arrest comes following a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member.

According to police, Pastor Vinod Kunjumon hails from Kerala and currently lives in Sahibabad. The other arrested man is Premchand Jatav, a resident of Rahul Vihar in Ghaziabad. They were arrested on Sunday.

Neighbours, however, said there was no conversion and only prayers were held every Sunday at Jatav’s house.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Wave City, Priyashri Pal, said the arrests were made after police received a complaint from one Prabal Gupta at the Crossings Republik police station on Sunday. “Gupta, in his complaint, alleged he [the pastor] was converting people from SC communities by offering them cash and kind. We have not come to a concrete conclusion yet, but have begun our investigation,” Pal told The Indian Express.

When The Indian Express visited Rahul Vihar on Monday, the single-storey house, where Gupta alleged religious conversion was taking place, was closed, and its gates were damaged.

Satish Anand, 54, a neighbour, said Jatav built this house nearly 30 years ago. “It is not true that he was converting people,” he said.

“He used to hold prayers on Sunday, and people from Rahul Vihar and Buddh Vihar used to attend it. But he never asked anyone to convert,” added Anand, who runs an eatery in the area.

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“He (Jatav) owned a dairy and supplied buffalo milk in the area,” said another resident. “Three years ago, he put up a signboard. Since then, everyone in the area started calling it a church,” she claimed. Gupta, who said he is a member of the Bajrang Dal, claimed he got information that a church was running illegally inside the Rahul Vihar house.

Claiming that Pastor Vinod was carrying out religious conversions at Jatav’s home, he alleged in his complaint, “Premchand converted to Christianity several years ago and used to host weekly Sunday prayer meetings at his home and carry out conversions. These meetings served as a platform for the pastor to approach other individuals and persuade them to change their religion.”

Gupta also alleged that when Bajrang Dal members opposed it, they were attacked.

Station House Officer, Crossings Republik, Preeti Garg, said the FIR was registered under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (threats involving death) 352 (breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and a relevant section of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.

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“We filed a case based on the application under relevant sections and arrested both the accused. Further legal action is being taken and an investigation is underway; legal proceedings will depend on the outcome of evidence collection,” the ACP added.

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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