West Bengal Church Vandalised, Priests Allegedly Assaulted

A church was allegedly vandalised during its inauguration ceremony in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, with priests and devotees reportedly assaulted and mobile phones smashed. Police have received a complaint and initiated an investigation into the incident.

The alleged attack took place at Narayantala, under the Basanti police station area, where Bishop Subrata Chakraborty, several priests and members of the congregation had gathered for the inauguration ceremony.

Group Allegedly Attacks Church During Inauguration

According to a police officer, a complaint alleged that around 30–35 people entered the church premises and assaulted those present. Women were also allegedly attacked and asked to remove their traditional shakha, or white bangles, before being forced out of the premises.

The attackers allegedly vandalised a Cross inside the church and assaulted priests and devotees. They also reportedly smashed the mobile phones of people who attempted to record the incident.

Members of the congregation further alleged that the group threatened to prevent religious activities from taking place on the premises.

Police Begin Investigation Into the Incident

Police said they had received a complaint regarding the alleged assault and vandalism and had started an investigation. Further details about those responsible and the circumstances surrounding the incident were not provided in the available information.

The incident drew condemnation from the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), a Christian organisation, which described the attack as an attempt to intimidate the minority community.

Christian Organisation Condemns Alleged Attack

Herod Mullick, the organisation’s founder state secretary and working president, criticised the alleged assault on priests during the inauguration ceremony.

“This is an unprecedented incident where miscreants have beaten up multiple priests during an inauguration ceremony with the bishop present,” Mullick said.

He also alleged that organised groups were targeting minorities and taking the law into their own hands.

“Organised groups take the law into their own hands to target peaceful minorities. Having faced no meaningful deterrence from the administration or the government, these attackers have grown reckless enough to torture priests of an established church without hesitation,” Mullick said.

Earlier Complaint From Christian Families in Paschim Medinipur

The incident comes a couple of weeks after three Christian families in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district approached the police with complaints of threats and assault.

The families alleged that a group of people threatened and attacked them in an attempt to force them to renounce their Christian faith. They had converted to Christianity around 18 months earlier.

They also alleged that they were forced to participate in certain religious rituals against their wishes. The complaints add to concerns raised by members of the Christian community over alleged incidents targeting religious minorities in the state.

Police have initiated an investigation into the church incident in South 24 Parganas. The allegations of assault, vandalism and threats remain subject to the outcome of the investigation.