Mob Targets Jabalpur Catholic School After Former Employee's Baseless Conversion Allegations

Jabalpur, July 15, 2026: A mob vandalised St. Aloysius Senior Secondary School in Rimjha, Jabalpur on Tuesday following weeks of tension over allegations of religious conversion against the institution.

The violence followed weeks of tension after a former contractual non-teaching staff member, whose one-year contract was not renewed, lodged a complaint accusing the school of attempting to convert him. According to the school management, the contract was discontinued because of repeated complaints regarding his performance and conduct.

A credible source from Jabalpur diocese said the former employee had threatened to invoke Madhya Pradesh's anti-conversion law after being informed that his contract would not be renewed. "He told Fr. Somy Jacob, 'If you don't keep me again, I will file a case against you under the anti-conversion law. I will say you tried to convert me, and because I refused, my contract was terminated,'" the source said, adding that the school had submitted video evidence of the conversation to the authorities.

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The source added that the former employee later contacted several former staff members whose services had also been discontinued following separate administrative decisions, and together they approached the police accusing the school of attempting religious conversion.

Following the complaint, the District Education Officer conducted an inquiry, recording statements from the school administration, the complainants and members of the teaching staff. "All the teachers, including the Hindu teachers working there, said they had never experienced anything of this sort in the school," the diocesan source said. "The allegations had no basis whatsoever."

According to the diocese, the inquiry report was subsequently submitted to the state government. The findings have not been made public.

Despite the inquiry, a large mob gathered outside the school on Tuesday, demanding action against the school administration. The mob allegedly damaged window panes, pelted stones at the campus, vandalised a statue of St. Aloysius and attempted to enter the school premises.

The school administration said the mob entered the campus during school hours while classes were in progress, leaving many students frightened and disrupting the normal functioning of the school. "Schools are meant to be sanctuaries of learning and safety," the administration said. "Forcing a mob into a campus full of children is not only a violation of the law but also causes deep psychological distress to young students."

Police personnel deployed at the site prevented the mob from entering the campus and brought the situation under control. Students remained safe inside the school throughout the incident.

The administration said the incident reflects what it described as a growing pattern in which routine administrative decisions at Christian-run educational institutions are given a communal angle through allegations of religious conversion by disgruntled individuals seeking personal leverage. It expressed concern that such allegations can be used to mobilise crowds and escalate what are essentially employment-related disputes.

The Diocese of Jabalpur has condemned the vandalism and said it is consulting legal experts to determine its next course of action while continuing to monitor the situation.

The incident has once again highlighted concerns over the misuse of unverified allegations and the need to respect due process while maintaining law and order.

By Catholic Connect Reporter