Large Number of Hindus Protest the Raise Concerns Among Christian Community in Hindu areas in WB.

Hindutva Mob Allegedly Attacks Under-Construction Church in West Bengal; Series of Incidents of Hindu Protests Raise Concerns Among Christian Community.

Sankirtan Das | HENB | Kolkata | July 9, 2026:: A series of alleged attacks targeting members of the Christian community in different parts of West Bengal has sparked concern among church leaders and rights advocates, following incidents of vandalism, alleged assault, and intimidation reported in South 24 Parganas, Murshidabad, and Purba Bardhaman districts.

The latest incidents occurred on July 5, when an under-construction church in the Subhashgram area of South 24 Parganas was allegedly vandalised by a mob. According to eyewitnesses, the group entered the premises raising slogans such as “Hindu Hindu Bhai Bhai” and “Jai Shri Ram” before damaging windows, destroying property, desecrating the altar, and smashing musical instruments used during worship.

Witnesses further alleged that crosses installed on the church roof were pulled down, leaving members of the local Christian community shocked and distressed.

In a separate incident on the same day in Murshidabad, Christian widow Barnali Chatterjee was allegedly targeted by a mob that pressured her to renounce Christianity and hand over her property for its proposed conversion into a temple. According to the allegations, the group vandalised her house while local residents did not intervene.

Another attack was reported from Faridpur in Purba Bardhaman district, where Grace Church allegedly came under attack during a Sunday worship service. Pastor Surajit Ghosh said false and provocative allegations were being circulated against the Christian community, creating fear and tension among believers.

Expressing concern for the safety of congregants, church staff, students, and their families, Pastor Ghosh said the atmosphere had become increasingly hostile. An eyewitness alleged that members of the mob assaulted the pastor and several worshippers at around 10 a.m.

The Bena Christian Council informed the police, who reportedly reached the scene and escorted the pastor and members of the congregation to safety.

The incidents have occurred shortly after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assumed power in the state. Christian leaders have voiced serious concern over what they describe as growing hostility toward the minority community and have called for a thorough investigation, accountability for those responsible, and adequate protection for places of worship.

Meanwhile, some local residents have presented a different perspective on the tensions. They allege that representatives of certain churches, including pastors, priests, sisters, and nuns, primarily conduct outreach in Hindu-majority localities by offering assistance related to poverty, healthcare, education, and employment. According to these residents, such outreach is accompanied by attempts to encourage religious conversion through inducements and claims of faith healing, including assertions that prayer alone can cure serious illnesses. They contend that these practices have led to resentment among sections of the local Hindu population.

These allegations regarding conversion practices and faith-healing claims have not been independently verified, and no evidence has been presented in this report to substantiate them. Church organisations have consistently maintained that their charitable activities and religious outreach are voluntary, lawful, and protected under the constitutional right to freely profess, practise, and propagate religion. They have also denied allegations of coercive or fraudulent conversions in similar controversies.

At the time of publication, there was no official statement from the state government or law enforcement authorities addressing all of the reported incidents. It also remains unclear whether arrests have been made or formal charges filed in connection with the alleged attacks. The reported allegations by eyewitnesses, local residents, and church representatives remain subject to official investigation.

At the end of last month, we covered a similar incident under the caption, “Agitated Hindutva Mob Attacks Christian Prayer Gathering in Eastern India Amid Conversion Allegations.”
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_Agency Inputs.