Christian Families in West Bengal Allege Attacks and Forced-Conversion Pressure in Medinipur

Allegations of repeated attacks on Christians have emerged in India's West Bengal. In Panskura, East Medinipur, a Christian family alleges that a group identifying themselves as members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad attacked them and threatened to cut them off from government services.

Victim Parbati Hembrom Soren said the family was about to begin prayers together on Monday night when more than 30 people, drunk, forced their way into their home and attacked them.

Ms Soren said she was beaten by her hair and told they would not be allowed to stay in the house. Her husband was abused in foul language, relatives were also assaulted, and an attempt was made to snatch their phones.

She said the attackers came in darkness between 7pm and 9pm. She had recorded video on her mobile, but the phone was snatched and the video deleted; she later recovered the phone from police.

Ms Soren claims the same people had threatened the family before. On 11 October they came to the house and threatened them for practising Christianity, she said.

She said pressure is being applied so they leave Christianity and return to Hinduism. Their position is that they chose Christianity themselves and practise it; for that reason they are being beaten.

Herod Mallick, founder of the Bangiya Khristiya Poriseba organisation, claims an organisation lawyer phoned the complainant to assess the situation. During that call, the attackers snatched her phone.

It is further alleged that on the phone the attackers identified themselves as Vishva Hindu Parishad members, threatened the lawyer, and cut the connection when they realised a lawyer was speaking.

According to the allegation, the attackers called Christianity an 'American religion' and told the family to adopt Hinduism. Ms Soren said they were being forced to build a tulsi platform and a Manasa temple in their yard, but refused because they are Christians.

She said people are now being warned not to give them work. Threats have been made to cut electricity and water connections and to deprive them of ration and Ayushman Bharat scheme benefits; everyone is being threatened not to help them.

At the time, the complainant, her husband and their two young children were at home, along with three relatives. Ms Soren said their place of worship was burned and torn, they were dragged out and beaten, and her sister-in-law was also slapped.

She said the attackers threatened to return with 50 to 100 people. Despite filing a complaint, police have not yet started a case, she said. For safety, the family has taken shelter at a relative's house.

Ms Soren said her husband drives a toto (e-rickshaw) and they had to take a loan of two lakh rupees to buy it. In this situation she does not know how they will stay safe or repay the loan.

A few days earlier, between 18 and 20 October, several families in Chandrakona, West Medinipur, alleged attacks by Bajrang Dal. They allege a woman was sexually harassed, her clothes torn, and they were forcibly taken to a puja pandal for conversion.

In her written complaint to police, that woman wrote that on 18 October at about 3:30pm a group linked to Bajrang Dal came to her house. They pressured her to abandon faith in Jesus Christ, intimidated and physically tortured her. After blows to her head and below her ear she lost consciousness; in that state her clothes were torn.

She further wrote that as part of a so-called purification ceremony she was bathed in front of everyone without consent, and on 20 October she and three other Christians including her husband were taken against their will to the village puja pandal and forced to perform specific religious rituals. She was also threatened she would not be allowed to live if she contacted police, she wrote.

Since a political change in West Bengal in May this year, multiple attacks on Christians have been alleged. According to analysis by a research organisation called India Hate Lab, between 13 May and 20 September a total of 60 attacks on Christians were recorded in 13 districts of the state.

In both cases, allegations of police inaction have been raised. A Panskura police officer said they received a written complaint but no FIR has yet been filed. He said an FIR does not follow automatically from a complaint; his investigating officer is examining the matter.