LUCKNOW, Sept. 29 -- A 43-year-old man was arrested in Nigoha here on Sunday for allegedly carrying out illegal religious conversions disguised 'healing sessions', police said, adding the accused also promised financial benefits to those who went to him.

Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) (South) Nipun Agarwal said the accused, Malkhan, who originally hails from Bakturikheda in Unnao, had built a hall-like structure on his farmland in Nigoha and used it as a makeshift church. "He organised weekly gatherings there on Sundays and Thursdays. During these gatherings, he promised to cure people of their illnesses and even offered inducements. The gatherings were projected as prayer or healing sessions, but in reality, they were being used to...