Gender: Female

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October//2021

Date of Release: February//2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Conversion Hate Speech Public Disorder Threat

Savita Singh

Extra Bio Info:

Savita Singh was detained in relation to her religious belief and activity.

In October 2021, authorities arrested Singh and her husband, Nandha Nathaniel, after they were accused of trying to forcibly convert people to Christianity.  They were charged with "injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class" (Sec. 295 IPC), "intentional insult, with intent to provoke breach of peace" (Sec. 504 IPC), criminal intimidation (Sec. 506 IPC), "converting or attempting to convert...any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means" (Sec. 3 Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020) and Section 5 (1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020. 

On February 11, 2022, Singh and her husband were released from prison.

Related Case: Nandha Nathaniel

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Nandu Nathanael Singh

Gender: Male

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Christian – Unspecified/Other

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Date of Detainment: October//2021

Date of Release: February/11/2022

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: Yes

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role

Nature of Charges: Conversion Hate Speech Public Disorder Threat

Nandha Nathaniel

Extra Bio Info:

Nandha Nathaniel was detained in relation to his religious belief and activity.

In October 2021, authorities arrested Nathaniel, who is a pastor, and his wife, Savita Singh, after they were accused of trying to forcibly convert people to Christianity.  They were charged with "injuring or defiling place of worship, with intent to insult the religion of any class" (Sec. 295 IPC), "intentional insult, with intent to provoke breach of peace" (Sec. 504 IPC), criminal intimidation (Sec. 506 IPC), "converting or attempting to convert...any other person from one religion to another by use or practice of misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by any fraudulent means" (Sec. 3 Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020) and Section 5 (1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition Of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance, 2020. 

On February 11, 2022, Singh and his wife were released from prison.

Related Cases: Savita Singh

Publicly Available Information:

Additional Name(s): Mangu Singh

Gender: Unspecified

Perpetrator: India

Religion or Belief: Christian – Protestant

Reports of Torture: No

Reports of Medical Neglect: No

Sentence: 2 Years' Imprisonment

Date of Detainment: December/27/2021

Date of Sentencing: July/19/2023

Current Status: Released

Religious Leader: No

Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment

Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Belief

Nature of Charges: Conversion

Mangu Mehtab Bhuriya

Extra Bio Info:

Mangu Mehtab Bhuriya was detained in relation to their religious activity. 

On December 26/27, 2021, authorities arrested Bhuriya and two others after they were accused of trying to forcibly convert someone to Christianity. A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Bhuriya reportedly under Sections 3, 5, and 10(2) of Madhya Pradesh's 2021 Freedom of Religion Act.

On July 19, 2023, a court in Madhya Pradesh reportedly sentenced Bhuriya to two years in prison. The court also granted Bhuriya bail pending appeal. Bhuriya was likely released shortly after the ruling. 

Related Cases: Ansingh Ninama, Jam Singh

Publicly Available Information:
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