A Sunday worship service at a residential property in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar Extension faced hostile protesters, requiring significant police intervention to escort worshippers to safety on February 9, 2025. The incident adds to the hundreds of disruptions of Christian worship services reported across Uttar Pradesh for the last few years.
The confrontation at Bharwara State locality escalated when protesters surrounded the prayer gathering of 30-40 attendees, alleging unauthorized religious conversion activities. Church representative Morris Kumar reported damage to surveillance equipment and verbal harassment, emphasizing the gathering was solely for Sunday prayers. Kumar noted that dozens of protesters damaged surveillance cameras and engaged in verbal confrontations.
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Pankaj Kumar Singh and ACP Vibhutikhand Radha Raman deployed forces from two police stations to control the situation. Protesters threatened to demolish the building if authorities didn't take action, while some residents alleged a pattern of property purchases at inflated rates to pressure existing homeowners in the area.
Local resident Ritesh Mishra alleged to the media that the property has operated as an unregistered church for several years, hosting weekly gatherings of 150-200 people every Sunday between 10 AM and 3 PM. Local residents, including Seema Singh, Shobha Tiwari, and Shashi Mishra, have accused police of inadequate action against what they describe as unauthorized gatherings. Meanwhile, BJP worker and advocate BK Ojha has demanded the property's sealing and legal action against those involved.
The incident occurs amid stringent implementation of Uttar Pradesh's anti-conversion law. U.S. State Department data confirms 855 arrests under this law since 2020, with 398 involving Christians. The amended law permits imprisonment without formal charges as a non-bailable offense and carries potential life sentences. Maximum fines have increased to 500,000 rupees (USD 5718) - nearly two years' average salary in the state, which stands at 21,000 rupees (USD 240) monthly.
Recent months have seen intensified scrutiny of Christian gatherings. Between August and September 2024 alone, over 30 pastors faced arrests on conversion allegations. Local Christian organizations report increasing surveillance of their centres, with authorities examining members' phone contacts for evidence of alleged conversion activities. This surveillance has led to arrests based solely on contact lists found on believers' phones.
The pressure has forced many congregations to abandon in-person worship. Property owners now routinely require written declarations prohibiting religious activities, while house churches increasingly resort to online services. Police monitor Christian centres regularly, creating what church leaders describe as an atmosphere of constant surveillance.
Some residents cite concerns about parking issues and noise levels during the Sunday services. However, church representatives maintain their constitutional right to religious worship, stating that the gatherings are purely religious in nature. Christians in the area report facing increasing difficulty in finding spaces for worship, with many property owners refusing to rent premises for religious activities.
The Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police – East, confirmed that while attendees were initially detained for questioning, all have been released and returned home. Both protesters and church members have filed complaints, which police say they are investigating.
Christian organizations continue to report targeted disruptions of their worship services across Uttar Pradesh, as this latest incident highlights the escalating tensions between religious freedom and anti-conversion regulations in India's most populous state.
