Bihar: Christian Conversion Attempt Uncovered Under the Guise of ‘Changaai Sabha’ in Aurangabad; Two Arrested

Aurangabad, Bihar: A suspected case of religious conversion under the cover of a so-called ‘Changaai Sabha’ has come to light in Khiriyaawan village of Madanpur police station area in Aurangabad district, Bihar. Following protests by local residents and Hindu organizations, police conducted a raid and took two individuals, including a woman, into custody. Allegedly, poor villagers were being lured and persuaded to adopt Christianity using inducements and superstitions.

Incident Details
The controversial event took place at the residence of local practitioner Dr. Ramnandan Goswami, where a large gathering was organized under the pretext of a spiritual discourse. The assembly reportedly accommodated 200–300 people and included arrangements for meals.

Allegations by Locals
Villagers allege that outsiders attending the event were convincing women and other naive residents to abandon Hindu rituals and convert to Christianity. The news of potential religious conversion quickly drew hundreds of villagers to the site, escalating tensions. Panchayat representatives, including Ranjit Yadav and Sushil Kumar Singh, intervened, along with leaders from the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal. Dr. Sant Prasad, VHP’s State Head of Gau Raksha Department, district co-secretary Naveen Pathak, and Bajrang Dal’s Ritik Kumar led the protest against the gathering. As the crowd and police arrived, many women and young girls fled the venue.

Use of Superstition
VHP leaders alleged that a systematic attempt to convert poor and marginalized communities is ongoing across the district. They claimed that inducements such as money, free education, and healthcare services were being used to target villagers. Furthermore, the ‘Changaai Sabha’ purportedly included exorcism rituals and superstitious healing for chronic illnesses, with attempts to discourage worship of Hindu deities and prevent married women from wearing traditional symbols like sindoor.

Police Action and Investigation
Madanpur police, led by SI Laxman Prasad, reached the scene with reinforcements. Two individuals—one male and one female—were taken into custody for questioning. Authorities have also seized suspicious religious texts and materials from the site.

Local resident Randhir Saw stated that there are no Christian families in the village, yet such gatherings have been held weekly by outsiders, raising suspicion. Police confirmed that the matter is under detailed investigation to uncover the network behind these activities, including potential external funding. Villagers have urged authorities to maintain strict oversight of such sensitive matters to preserve communal harmony in the area.