In two separate incidents in eastern India’s West Bengal state on Sunday 6 September, Hindu mobs vandalised a Presbyterian house church (pictured) and abducted a pastor leading a prayer service.

Following the incidents, which occurred in East Medinipur and West Medinipur districts, Christian organisations warned of an increase in attacks and intimidation targeting religious gatherings in West Bengal state.

Presbyterian house church vandalised

On the morning of 6 September a Hindu mob reportedly stormed and vandalised a Presbyterian house church in Rangilabasan village in East Medinipur district.

“Luckily, most of the congregation had left after the morning service ended. Right then, a violent mob of 125 people suddenly barged into the house,” said Chhabi Das, a church member who witnessed the incident. She said the attackers vandalised the property, which was being used as a temporary church venue, and broke a cross into four pieces.

Several local women rushed to the house after hearing the commotion and tried to intervene but the mob reportedly assaulted a Christian woman named Tapan Samanta, in whose home the service was being held, and dragged her and some of the other women to a local police station. They were later released.

Chhabi Das noted that the local police station had been routinely informed in writing before Sunday worship services.

Pastor abducted

At around 11 am on 6 September about 25 people reportedly stormed a Christian home in Nandapurya village in West Medinipur district, where Pastor Sukhendu Singh was leading a prayer service for Christians from eight families living in neighbouring villages.

“They threatened Pastor Sukhendu Singh and forcibly took him away,” a Christian eyewitness named Purna Hembram told UCA News on 7 September.

Victor Behera, state coordinator of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (Bengal Christian Council) said the pastor was taken to a local office of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), where he was allegedly abused and tortured. Pastor Singh was released late that evening after his abductors forced him to sign a written promise not to visit the villages to conduct prayer services.

“They also forced him to say that he would go to every Christian house and tell them that Christianity is a foreign religion and that they should return to Hinduism,” said Victor Behera, adding that the statement was recorded on video. He said lawyer Samarjeet Dey is helping the victims file a police complaint.

Anti-Christian violence in West Bengal reaches “alarming level”

John Dayal, spokesperson for the All India Catholic Union, said that the frequency and intensity of anti-Christian violence in West Bengal has reached an alarming level and warned that the state risks joining Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh, which he described as among the states with the worst records of anti-Christian violence.

He said the silence of West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and India’s federal home minister had fuelled suspicions among Christians that the violence was supported by senior government officials and the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP.

Herod Mullick, founding secretary of the Bengal Christian Council, commented: “Despite continuous assurances from the administration, repeated disruptions and attacks during Sunday prayer services remain deeply alarming.”

Father Dominic Gomes, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, told UCA News that the “acts of violence, intimidation and desecration of places of worship are unacceptable and must be condemned”.

He called on police and district authorities to conduct a prompt and impartial investigation, arrest those responsible regardless of their identity or affiliation, and ensure the safety of the victims and Christian communities.

August incidents

The incidents on 6 September followed several attacks on Christian gatherings in West Bengal last month.

On 14 August a mob disrupted a burial and assaulted mourners at a church in Sahanagar town, Purba Bardhaman district. The mob forced the Christians to remove the body from the grave and take it to a cemetery in a different town.

On 23 August around sixty people were attending Sunday prayers in a house in Uluberia town, Howrah district, when a mob entered and accused them of carrying out forced conversions. Chanting slogans, the mob assaulted attendees and damaged the premises.

On 25 August Christians were beaten in an attack on a prayer meeting at a house in Ghusuri in Howrah district. Police detained the Christians at the police station for hours for questioning about the church, which has suspended house prayers and local visits.

On 26 August a mob disrupted a prayer meeting at a house in Check Milepost village in Purba Medinipur, accused Pastor Joy Sutradhar of forcible conversions and assaulted him and his wife. Local Christians contacted lawyers who came to the police station and helped secure the couple’s release.

(UCA News, World Echo News)

Photo of Presbyterian house church in Rangilabasan village: UCA News