Lakhimpur Kheri, Uttar Pradesh, June 8, 2026: Four pastors associated with the Assemblies of God (AG) church and the Central UP Mission, Kanpur, were arrested on Monday in connection with a case involving alleged unlawful religious conversion activities.
According to police sources, the arrested individuals are Pastor Suresh Chandra, Kamlesh Kumar, Shravan Kumar, and Arun Eshudashan. They have been booked under Section 127(2) and Section 302 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
The arrests come amid ongoing enforcement of the state's anti-conversion law, which prohibits religious conversions through force, fraud, or allurement. Details of the specific allegations, such as the nature of the complaints, any evidence of inducements, or the location and circumstances of the alleged activities, have not been fully disclosed in initial reports.
Local authorities in Lakhimpur Kheri acted on a complaint, leading to the detention of the pastors. Investigations are reportedly underway to determine the full extent of the alleged offenses. Section 302 BNS pertains to punishment for murder, while Section 127(2) relates to offenses involving concealment of design to commit an offense punishable with death or life imprisonment—charges that suggest serious accusations in this context.
The Central UP Mission, Kanpur, is affiliated with the broader Assemblies of God network, which operates churches and community outreach programs across Uttar Pradesh. No immediate statements from the mission or the arrested pastors' legal representatives were available at the time of reporting.
This incident reflects a pattern of heightened scrutiny on Christian religious activities in parts of Uttar Pradesh, where similar cases involving pastors have been reported in recent years under the anti-conversion legislation.
Further details are expected as the police investigation progresses. The accused are likely to be produced before a local court for remand and bail proceedings.
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