Why are Christians under attack aross Bengal?
A string of attacks on churches, prayer meetings and Christian worshippers across West Bengal has raised concerns over religious freedom, alleged vigilante violence and the state’s response to conversion-related conflicts.
From Vandalised Churches to Raided Prayer Meetings: Bengal’s Recent Attacks on Christians
What began with the vandalisation of an under-construction church in South 24 Parganas in July has, within two months, moved through disrupted burials, attacks on house prayer meetings and an alleged abduction of a worshipper. Now, a Christian organisation says it has documented 26 such cases across West Bengal.
The latest incident was reported on September 13 in Dantan, Paschim Medinipur, where a Sunday prayer service at a house was allegedly disrupted by a mob of around 40–45 people. According to worshippers quoted by The Times of India, the group demanded that the service stop, with one person allegedly claiming that the government had ordered churches and mosques to close. When the demand was resisted, violence allegedly followed. Chumki Singh, one of the women present, was allegedly dragged by her hair and taken away for around two hours before police rescued her. A Dantan police official told TOI that no formal complaint had been registered at that point.
The episode follows a series of confrontations in different districts.
On July 5, nearly 100 people allegedly entered an under-construction Presbyterian church at Buri Bot Tola in Sonarpur’s Subhasgram, damaging its door, pillars and three crosses. The crowd accused the local Christian community of conducting religious conversions. Police detained three youths and an FIR was registered after a complaint alleging criminal trespass, damage and intimidation. The church served around 50 families, comprising 116 members, who had previously worshipped from a rented room.
On August 14, a burial at St Claret Church in Sahanagar, Purba Bardhaman, was disrupted. The parish priest told The Indian Express that a group demanded documents relating to the burial ground and allegedly removed the body after it had been lowered into the grave. The body was subsequently taken to another cemetery. Police gave a different account of the dispute, saying locals had questioned whether the land was a recognised cemetery and whether the deceased belonged to the locality; land records were being checked.
On August 23, a prayer meeting in a rented house in Uluberia, Howrah, attended by around 60 people, was allegedly attacked. Pastor Mithun Hazra told The Indian Express that a mob entered during prayers, assaulted members and damaged furniture and equipment. Police rescued the congregation, and an FIR was registered; no arrests had been reported in that account.
Two further incidents were reported soon after. On August 25, a prayer meeting in Ghusuri, Howrah, was allegedly disrupted, after which organisers said they suspended house prayers. On August 26, a pastor and his wife at a prayer meeting in Check Milepost village, Purba Medinipur, were allegedly beaten and taken to a police station. They said fear prevented them from initially filing a complaint.
The recurring allegation behind several confrontations has been religious conversion. Representatives of Hindu groups cited by The Indian Express alleged forced conversion and inducements, while a state minister said that voluntary prayer was a religious choice but that allegations of forced conversion should be dealt with through law.
On September 17, Bangiya Christiya Pariseba submitted a memorandum to the state government alleging 26 cases of persecution over three months, with 11 resulting in FIRs. It alleged that victims had been discouraged from filing complaints and sought prompt registration of FIRs, impartial investigations and protection for churches and prayer halls. These figures and allegations remain claims made by the organisation.
The emerging question is therefore not simply whether individual disputes involved allegations of conversion. It is what happens when those allegations become the backdrop to physical attacks, disruption of worship, interference with burial and damage to religious property — and whether such conflicts are resolved through established legal processes or on the ground by crowds claiming to act against conversion.
