Police and senior government officials in Madhya Pradesh state raided a Catholic seminary on 5 November after a local newspaper accused it of converting students to Christianity, amid growing reports of anti-Christian hostility in the region.
Father Harshal Ammaparambil, rector of St Joseph’s Minor Seminary in the Gwalior diocese, said officers arrived without prior notice and demanded to search the premises following allegations of religious conversion.
“They came unannounced and insisted on searching the seminary, claiming we were involved in conversions,” Father Ammaparambil told reporters.
The seminary, founded 25 years ago to train young Catholic men for the priesthood, was searched for nearly five hours. Police reportedly “examined every corner” of the facility and questioned all 23 seminarians, who come from Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Crime Branch officers, senior police officials, and a Sub-Divisional Magistrate were part of the operation. The district collector has since formed a three-member committee to investigate the allegations and submit a report within five days.
The raid followed an article published in the Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar on the same day, which claimed the seminary was admitting boys from poor tribal families, offering them education and accommodation, and converting them to Christianity to prepare them for priesthood.
Father Ammaparambil said the officials left after the seminary presented documents, including parental consent forms, baptismal certificates, parish recommendations, and property records.
“We have nothing to hide,” he said. “We admit only Catholic students and are ready to face any investigation.”
He called the newspaper report “completely false” and said the seminary is seeking legal advice on possible action against the publication for spreading misinformation.
Father Pratap Toppo, diocesan public relations officer, described the report as “misleading and damaging,” saying it was published without verifying the facts.
A local government official confirmed that an inquiry is underway but declined to comment further.
Madhya Pradesh is one of 12 Indian states enforcing anti-conversion laws, which make religious conversions without prior government approval a criminal offence.
Catholic leaders in the state say the incident reflects increasing pressure on Christian institutions. “The seriousness shown in the raid shows how authorities tried to find fault with us based on a baseless media report,” said Daniel John, a Catholic lay leader from Bhopal. “The same urgency is not seen when Christians are attacked.”
Several Christian schools, orphanages, and charities in Madhya Pradesh have faced similar raids in recent years under anti-conversion claims.
Adapted from UCA News.
