[ Reported as seen]
Earlier, Uppinangady police raided the Moriah prayer center in Nelliadi town of Dakshina Kannada and prevented an attempt at illegal conversion. The victims were from Shivamogga district in central Karnataka.
The Modus Operandi involved uploading videos on YouTube claiming a cure for mental illness and drug or alcohol addiction through prayers to Jesus. Once the victims arrived, they were brainwashed into converting to Christianity. It is not known whether the fake healing center provided medical assistance.
Uppinangady police found that the retreat center had 27 inmates lured with false promises. It included a six-year-old boy, 18 women and eight men. A police officer said they had arrived by bus at their own expense.
Moriah prayer center has a history of using cheap gimmicks and claims they are miracles. Hundreds of such retreats exist all over south Bharat and convert the unsuspicious Hindus to Christianity. Some offer money and other resources. They operate with impunity and prey on the weak and the gullible.
Media reports tried to whitewash the conversion mafia crimes and claimed that the inmates were there of their own will. They added that the police did not initiate any action against the Hindu organizations since the retreat did not file any complaints.
It is unknown how many Hindus the Moriah prayer center has succeeded in converting. Moriah prayer centre is one of the few who get noted for illegal conversions, many still continue to operate in the country.