At Least 15 Attacks on Christians in West Bengal in Two Months of BJP Rule
Recent incidents of repeated attacks and various forms of harassment against the Christian community in West Bengal have raised serious concern. At least 15 incidents of attacks on Christians across the state were documented during July and August. Allegations have emerged of churches being vandalised, prayer services being obstructed, priests and worshippers being physically assaulted, and religious funerals being disrupted.
According to Christian rights monitoring organisations and local sources, the incidents were reported from South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Howrah and Purba Medinipur districts.
The Anti-Christian Tracker Watch (ACT India) reported nine attacks in the state in July. Details of at least eight specific incidents were found through various media reports and local sources.
July 4 (Paschim Medinipur): A prayer gathering held at the home of a newlywed couple in Palbari was allegedly attacked, with female guests reportedly forced to remove their shakha-pola bangles. Police allegedly detained a local priest instead of taking action against the attackers.
July 5 (South 24 Parganas): A group of around 100 people allegedly attacked a church under treatment in Subhasgram. They reportedly broke through the door, damaged the altar and musical instruments, and destroyed three crosses on the roof. Chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” the attackers accused those present of religious conversion. Police later detained three people.
July 5 (Purba Bardhaman and elsewhere): A priest and worshippers were allegedly attacked during Sunday prayer at Grace Church in Faridpur. On the same day, a Christian widow in Murshidabad was allegedly pressured to convert and faced an attempt to seize her land. In Bankura, a prayer gathering was reportedly obstructed and Bibles were allegedly confiscated.
July 12 (North 24 Parganas): A group of around 60 people allegedly threatened the Salesian Sisters, demanding the demolition of an under-construction memorial chapel and cemetery in Barasat.
July 26 and 31: Allegations emerged that Bibles were burned and prayer gatherings held at homes in Chararayanpur Majhipara, South 24 Parganas, were smeared with saffron colour. On July 30, a priest in Sandeshkhali reportedly faced threats.
In August, the nature of the incidents reportedly changed, with prayer gatherings organised mainly in private homes becoming the primary targets.
August 14 (Purba Bardhaman): In Sahanagar, a Christian woman’s burial was reportedly disrupted over a land dispute, in what was described as a sensational incident in which the body was allegedly forced to be removed from the grave. The burial was later completed at another cemetery. Police, however, denied allegations of assault and described the matter as a local dispute over land ownership.
August 23 (Howrah): Around 60 worshippers were allegedly subjected to an organised attack during a prayer service at a rented house in Uluberia. The priest and worshippers were reportedly beaten, while furniture and sound equipment were vandalised. Police later arrived and rescued them, and an FIR was filed.
August 25, 26 and 30: Reports emerged of attacks, assaults and intimidation during home-based prayer gatherings in Ghusuri and Jagaddalpur in Howrah, Check Milepost in Purba Medinipur and Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas.
Conversion Allegations and Fear Among Christians
In most of the incidents, the attackers’ main allegation was “forced religious conversion.” However, no legal basis or investigative evidence supporting these allegations has yet been established.
Following the series of incidents, Christians in Howrah and other districts were reportedly forced to temporarily suspend prayer gatherings at homes and visits by priests due to security concerns.
Although police took prompt action and filed FIRs in some cases, no arrests have yet been made in many of the incidents. Human rights and religious organisations said it is necessary to investigate whether these incidents were isolated clashes or part of a deliberate effort to put pressure on minorities.
