From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, Oct 9: The Centre has flagged reports that some foreign nationals are entering the country under the guise of tourists or as businessmen but indulging in anti-India activities like espionage and conversion with monetary and other allurements using missionaries in states such as Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Odisha.
The Ministry of Home Affairs through its intelligence agencies have shared reports that several missionaries in India are being used by Western powers for intelligence gathering and for pushing an anti-India agenda, according to official sources.
In recent months, conversion mafias have been busted in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Meghalaya, revealing networks involving foreign nationals on tourist and business visas.
Investigations revealed that these operatives were targeting vulnerable populations, particularly poor tribals, by offering free healthcare and education. While religious conversion is also one of the prime motives, agencies suspect that those converted were also being used for intelligence gathering and propaganda.
The sources said these groups were spreading false, anti-India narratives through vulnerable recruits, who were later used to further infiltrate communities. A breakthrough came with the arrest of US national James Watson, who was allegedly part of a network engaged in conversion and intelligence activities.
Similar networks in Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Meghalaya have been uncovered, pointing to a large syndicate. The other aspects involved intelligence gathering and attempts to alter voting patterns in tribal belts by spreading anti-government propaganda.
These foreigners reportedly entered India with tourism or business visas. The agencies are probing visa misuse, which has reportedly occurred in about 250 cases over the past five to six years.
These revelations come after Uttar Pradesh police uncovered a major conversion module run by Chhangur Baba aka Jamaluddin, allegedly funded from Dubai, the United States and Canada. Chhangur Baba, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, was arrested in July 2025 for allegedly running a large-scale illegal religious conversion and money-laundering racket.
