Pastor arrested in Meerut for illegal religious conversions

A pastor was arrested in Meerut on Wednesday for allegedly persuading people to convert to Christianity in exchange for money. This arrest follows the earlier detention of five other people involved in the case. The main suspect, Ravi Kumar Azad, had been hiding since the complaint was filed in August 2024. Police officials reported that he was captured by a special team near a temple in Saharanpur after receiving a tip-off. The case began when Manoj Tyagi accused Azad and his associates of using financial incentives to pressure individuals, particularly from the Scheduled Caste community, into conversion. A case was opened under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. The investigation is being handled by the Meerut Crime Branch, which has already jailed five suspects. Authorities had been actively searching for Azad, leading to his recent arrest.