Incident Reported During Durga Puja Festival

A Christian woman in the Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal has reported a severe incident involving alleged assault and forced conversion by individuals linked to the Bajrang Dal. The woman claims that on October 18, during the Durga Puja festival, she and her family were targeted in an attempt to coerce them into renouncing their Christian faith. The complainant stated that she was assaulted, stripped, and subjected to a ritual described as “purification” in front of others.

According to her account, the group threatened her family and two other families with dire consequences, including the threat of being “burnt alive” if they sought police assistance. Despite these threats, the woman reported the incident to the police, but she alleges that intimidation continued for two days following the assault.

On the night of October 20, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed, leading to the registration of a case against at least 13 individuals under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including attempted murder. However, as of October 24, no arrests had been made in connection with the case.

Details of the Alleged Assault

The complainant detailed the events that transpired on October 18, stating that members of the Bajrang Dal arrived at her home and pressured her family to abandon their faith in Jesus Christ. The woman alleged that during the assault, she was struck on the head by one of the accused, Ranjit Dolui, causing her to lose consciousness. Upon regaining awareness, she realised her clothing had been torn off, and she identified several individuals involved in the attack.

Additional accusations in her complaint included threats made against her 16-year-old daughter, with one of the accused allegedly using sexual slurs. Another young girl, aged 15, was reportedly threatened with violence, and two women from other families were assaulted with a bamboo stick. Furthermore, the group allegedly stole Rs 20,000 from one of the households.

After the group left, the woman contacted the police, who arrived to document her oral complaint. However, she claims that the intimidation persisted, leading to further distress for her and her family.

Political Reactions and Calls for Action

The incident has drawn significant attention from political parties, with the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress calling for immediate action against the alleged perpetrators. Congress leader KC Venugopal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the swift arrest of those accused of the assault and coercion. The TMC has also expressed concern over the safety of Christian communities in the region.

TMC MP Sagarika Ghose has highlighted ongoing issues faced by Christians in West Bengal, alleging that they are being threatened and attacked if they do not “return” to Hinduism. She further claimed that Christians are being denied burial rights and subjected to intimidation during religious gatherings, with reports of vandalism against churches.

The local police have reportedly increased security measures for the affected families following the incident. The situation continues to unfold as authorities respond to the allegations of violence and coercion, and the community awaits further developments in the case.

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