West Bengal: Police in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district have stepped up security in the Chandrakona area after three Christian families alleged that they were assaulted and threatened by a group that wanted them to renounce Christianity.
According to police, nine members of the three families filed a complaint detailing assaults that occurred on October 18 and 19. The victims, who converted to Christianity around 18 months ago, alleged they were threatened with severe consequences if they refused to renounce their faith. They also alleged that they were forced to take part in certain religious rituals against their will.
During the attack, a woman from one of the families lost consciousness after being assaulted, while a young girl from another family was also assaulted and threatened.
Police Register Case
Police have registered a case against the individuals named in the complaint. A senior officer stated that the identities of the accused cannot be disclosed at this stage as the investigation is currently underway.
The families also alleged that the group warned them against approaching the police.
Despite these threats, all nine complainants were escorted to the police station, where their statements were recorded. They have since returned home, and police personnel have been deployed in the area to prevent any further trouble. The officer stated that the situation is currently under control.
Police Probe All Angles Behind Chandrakona Incident
Investigators are currently examining the circumstances surrounding the incident to determine whether the violence stemmed from a local dispute, an old family disagreement, or another underlying issue.
“We are probing all possible angles,” the officer said, emphasising that authorities have not yet verified the political affiliations, if any, of the accused. Additional details are expected to be shared once preliminary inquiries are completed.
Rise In Hate Crime Incidents In West Bengal
The Chandrakona incident has raised heightened concerns among community advocacy groups regarding the safety of religious minorities across West Bengal.
The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), a West Bengal-based Christian advocacy organisation, recently sought a meeting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to raise concerns over recurring attacks, church vandalism, and disruptions of prayer gatherings. The BCP accused state authorities of failing to ensure impartial investigations into such incidents, where false claims of forced religious conversion are frequently cited as justification for vigilante action.
Additionally, a report by human rights monitor India Hate Lab (IHL) recorded at least 60 hate-crime incidents targeting Christian communities in West Bengal during the first four months of the BJP-led government. Paschim Medinipur and South 24 Parganas accounted for the majority of such incidents, the report said.