Image source: BBC/Archisman Saha
There have been allegations of several incidents of attacks on people of the Christian community in the state of West Bengal.
A Christian family in Panskura, East Midnapore has alleged that some people claiming to be members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) entered their house and beat them up and threatened to shut down government facilities.
Parvati Hembram Soren, who was injured in the attack, told BBC News Bangla that her family was preparing to pray together on Monday night. Meanwhile, more than 30 drunk people forcibly entered his house and attacked him.
Parvati Soren said, "They held my hair and beat me. They were saying that they will not let us stay in this house. They were abusing my husband very badly. Our relatives were also with us, they even raised their hands on my sisters. They tried to snatch our phones."
'He grabbed my hair and beat me, abused my husband'
Image source, Herode Mullick
A few days ago, during Durga Puja, in Chandrakona, West Midnapore, a group of people said to be members of Bajrang Dal were accused of attacking several Christian families.
Since the change of government in West Bengal in May this year, there have been many reports of attacks on people of the Christian community.
According to the analysis of research organization 'India Hate Lab', between May 13 and September 20, a total of 60 incidents of attacks on Christians were recorded in 13 districts of the state.
What happened during the attack?
Image source, ANI
Parvati Soren, a resident of Panskura, alleges that these miscreants had threatened her family earlier also.
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According to him, on October 11 also the same people had come to his house and threatened him because he followed Christianity.
He said, "Between 7 and 9 pm, they came to our house drunk like thieves. It was so dark at that time that it was impossible for an outsider to record the video. I recorded the video with my mobile, but they snatched my phone and deleted the video. Eventually, I got my phone back through the police."
He said, "They are pressurizing us to leave Christianity and return to Hinduism. We told them that we have adopted Christianity of our own free will and are following it. That is why we are being beaten."
Allegations of threat to stop facilities if one does not change religion
Herod Mallick, founder of Bengal Christian Service, claimed that a lawyer of the organization had called the complainant to get information about the case. During that time the attackers snatched his phone.
It is alleged that the attackers, claiming to be members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, also threatened the lawyer over the phone. When he realized that he was talking to a lawyer, he disconnected the phone.
It is alleged that the attackers called Christianity an 'American religion' and asked the family to convert to Hinduism.
Parvati Soren told BBC News Bangla, "They were pressurizing us to build Tulsi Manch and Mansa Temple in our courtyard. We told them that we are Christians and will not do this."
"Now they are even stopping people from giving us work. They have threatened to stop our electricity and water supply, stop ration and the benefits of 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana'. They are threatening everyone so that no one helps us."
The complainant, her husband and two small children were at home at the time of the incident. His three relatives were also present there.
'Police have not registered the case yet'
Parvati said, "Our prayer place was burnt and vandalized. We were dragged out and beaten. They attacked me, slapped my sister-in-law and abused my husband a lot."
He said, "The attackers have also threatened to come again and attack again, and said that this time they will bring 50 to 100 people. We have lodged a complaint, but the police have not registered any case yet."
In view of security, Parvati Soren and her family are staying in a relative's house.
She said, "My husband drives a toto (e-rickshaw). We had taken a loan of Rs 2 lakh to buy the toto. I don't understand how to keep ourselves safe in this situation and how to repay the loan."
Allegations of pressurizing for religious conversion
Image source: Asian News International
A few days before this incident, many families in Chandrakona, West Midnapore had also accused Bajrang Dal members of attack. These incidents took place between 18 and 20 October.
He alleged that a woman was sexually assaulted, her clothes were torn and she was forcibly taken to a puja temple with the aim of converting her.
When BBC News Bangla spoke on phone to the woman who complained about the Chandrakona incident, she told that her health is very bad after being injured in the attack and she is undergoing treatment.
In the complaint lodged with the police, she has written, "On October 18, 2026, at around 3.30 pm, some people associated with Bajrang Dal came to my house. At that time, I was at home with my family members. They pressured us to give up our faith in Lord Jesus Christ and threatened us. They also beat us up."
Woman still fears attack
The woman alleges that that day the miscreants hit her on the head and below the ear, after which she became unconscious. He alleges that his clothes were torn while he was unconscious.
"I was then forced to take a bath in public in the name of an alleged purification ritual. My clothes were removed without my consent and I was forced to participate in the ritual," she said in the complaint.
The complainant further alleged that on October 20, she and a total of four Christian people, including her husband, were taken to the village puja pandal against their will. There he was forcibly made to perform some religious rituals.
In the complaint, she wrote, "They are still threatening me that if I approach the police and file a complaint, they will not leave me alive. I am very scared and mentally disturbed. I am afraid that any serious incident may happen to me or any of my family members at any time."
Police said- 'There is lack of evidence'
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The police have been accused of not taking action in both the incidents.
When BBC Bangla contacted a police officer of Panskura police station, he said that they have received a written complaint, but FIR (Primary) has not been registered yet.
He said, "It is not that an FIR is registered as soon as a complaint is received. My investigating officer is currently investigating the matter. At this time we cannot give more information than this."
At the same time, an FIR was registered on October 20 in the Chandrakona incident of West Midnapore.
In this case, a case was registered under several sections including attempt to murder, assault with intent to remove a woman's clothes, house breaking, intentionally causing hurt, criminal intimidation and molestation of a woman.
However, a police officer associated with the investigation of this case told BBC Bangla that the investigation is going on, but due to lack of sufficient evidence, no one has been arrested yet.
He said, "We have not yet found sufficient evidence in the statements, medical reports or other documents submitted on the basis of which anyone can be arrested."
According to the police officer, all the 13 accused named in the FIR are local residents.
'I will convert all Christians into Hindus'
Chandranath Das, leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in many states including West Bengal, told BBC News Bangla that the allegations leveled against Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad of attacking people of Christian community are wrong.
He claims that the organization neither attacks anyone nor takes the law into its own hands.
However, he said that his organization is running a campaign to convert Christians and Muslims to Hinduism through religious education in the villages of West Bengal.
Bajrang Dal is also a youth organization associated with Vishwa Hindu Parishad.
Chandranath Das said, "Our work is going on not only in Chandrakona or Midnapore, but all over India and West Bengal. Our aim is to convert more and more Christians into Hindus. And they will become Hindus. This is our aim. No one will become a Christian."
He further said that since the establishment of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in 1964, the aim of the organization has been to stop religious conversion and to bring back those who leave their religion and convert to another religion.
He claims that every year thousands of people of different religions are "converted into Hindus" in West Bengal. He said that this work is done openly, in broad daylight and by giving information to the police.
BJP leader said – Zero tolerance policy against atrocities
Herod Mallik, founder of Bengal Christian Service, told BBC News Bangla, "Such attacks are happening continuously. The people carrying out the attacks are becoming more fearless. Maybe this is happening because no action is being taken against them. I don't understand where they are getting so much courage from and why they are so fearless."
They complained that the government was not responding to their appeals, nor were these incidents being properly investigated. He said, "No action is being taken against the people who carried out these incidents."
On these allegations, the spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in West Bengal, Debjit Sarkar told BBC News Bangla that the new government led by BJP MLAs has adopted a policy of 'zero tolerance' against any kind of injustice and atrocities.
He said, "Those who feel that atrocities have been committed against them should come to the legal system and lodge a complaint. The law will take its own course. We will not give communal exemption to anyone nor do we want to take communal advantage from anyone."
He said that it is not our job to decide who will behave how, who will follow which religion, or who will belong to which community or not. Religious conversion is not recognized in our state
Congress leader KC Venugopal has also targeted BJP over the alleged attack on a Christian family in Paschim Medinipur.
He has written to the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister of West Bengal demanding action against those involved in allegedly forcing a woman to "undress and undergo 'purification' ritual" in Chandrakona.
Published by Collective Newsroom for the BBC.
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