Christian Pastor, Wife Targeted in Public by Sri Satyanisht Arya in Ghaziabad, UP

Ghaziabad: A video showing the harassment of a Christian pastor and his wife in Ghaziabad by Sri Satyanisht Arya, also known as Sunnyur Rahman, has triggered widespread outrage, with rights groups and church bodies describing the incident as a clear case of targeted intimidation and hate speech against a religious minority.

The viral footage shows Rahman confronting Pastor Raju Sadasivam and his wife in a public space, questioning their faith, making derogatory remarks about Christianity, and filming the couple in an aggressive and provocative manner. The pastor and his wife appear visibly distressed in the video, while Rahman continues his verbal attack, framing his actions as an exposure of “conversion activities” without offering any evidence.

Sunnyur Rahman, a Bangladeshi national, has a controversial and well-documented history. Once known as a self-proclaimed atheist and blogger associated with Bangladesh’s Shahbag movement, Rahman had fled his country after facing attacks by Islamist extremists. He later took shelter in India, where he was initially supported by rationalist and humanist groups in West Bengal as a victim of religious fundamentalism.

However, over the past several years, Rahman has undergone a sharp ideological shift. Renaming himself Sri Satyanisht Arya, he publicly renounced atheism, claimed allegiance to Hindutva ideology, and began producing social media content marked by communal rhetoric. His videos have repeatedly targeted Muslims, Christians, and political leaders in Bengal, while promoting themes such as ghar wapasi. Several of his former supporters and rationalist organisations have publicly distanced themselves, accusing him of abandoning rationalism in favour of communal polarisation and monetised hate speech.

The Ghaziabad incident is being seen as an extension of this pattern. Christian leaders and civil society activists said the harassment of Pastor Sadasivam and his wife reflects a growing climate of hostility against Christians, particularly pastors, who are increasingly confronted, filmed, and accused of forced conversions without due process.

“This is not free speech or ideological debate. This is intimidation,” a church representative said, adding that the video demonstrates how individuals with a social media following can harass minorities with impunity.

Legal experts point out that such actions may attract provisions under the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act, especially if the content is found to promote enmity between communities or amount to criminal intimidation. They also raised concerns about Rahman’s legal status in India and his continued online activities, including fundraising through digital platforms, despite not holding a known work permit.

As the video continues to circulate, rights groups have demanded swift police action and protection for the pastor and his family, warning that silence or inaction would only embolden those who openly target vulnerable communities under the guise of activism.

By Catholic Connect Reporter