A Bible conference attended by more than 1,900 people was brought to an early close after a mob allegedly attacked Santal Christians at a church in West Bengal, on 9 October, leaving several people injured and damaging church property.
The four-day Mega Santali Bible Conference was taking place at the Jalarkhali Divine Centre on the grounds of St Louis Parish Church in Nadia district when the violence broke out. The incident has raised fresh concerns about the safety of Christian communities in the state.
Bishop Nirmol Gomes of Krishnagar Diocese described the incident to AsiaNews as a planned attack. He said groups of people arrived in lorries carrying wooden sticks, clubs and other weapons before assaulting those attending the gathering and damaging decorations and statues.
According to an account prepared by eyewitness Father Michael Adesar, about 200 people gathered outside the church on the evening of 9 October. They reportedly shouted anti-Christian slogans, damaged banners and threw stones at the premises. The protective glass around a statue of Divine Mercy was also reportedly damaged.
When local Catholics came out to defend the church grounds and protest, they were allegedly attacked with bricks and bamboo sticks, leaving several people injured.
Bishop Gomes said the attackers delivered speeches against Christians and accused them of carrying out religious conversions. He added that the incident had created considerable tension and left members of the Santal community afraid.
The conference brought together Santali-speaking Christians, people preparing to become Christians and others interested in learning about the faith. Father Vincent V.C., head of the organising committee, had obtained permission from the district magistrate for the event and the use of loudspeakers. Police had also been informed about the programme and the expected number of participants.
Following the violence, civil authorities ordered the gathering to stop, citing security concerns and the absence of the required administrative approval for an event of that size. The diocese advised the organisers to comply with the order to safeguard those attending.
The diocese's Vicar General, Father Pradip, and Financial Administrator, Father Arul, went to the local police station to lodge a complaint. According to the report, the officer on duty was initially reluctant to accept or investigate it. A small police contingent later arrived at the church entrance and questioned some participants at the retreat centre.
Bishop Gomes said the atmosphere for Christians in West Bengal had deteriorated. He described earlier incidents as sporadic but said the current situation was alarming, accusing those responsible of spreading suspicion about Christianity and the Christian community.
The Church is considering peaceful responses, including a peace march, silent protests and prayer meetings to condemn violence and show solidarity with those affected.
Herod Mullick, founder of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, an interfaith forum representing Christians in West Bengal, also condemned the attack. He said incidents targeting Christians were becoming increasingly brazen while the state government remained silent. Mullick rejected claims that Christians had provoked the confrontation by throwing stones, calling the allegations untrue.
The incident comes amid wider reports of intimidation and restrictions affecting Christian communities in parts of West Bengal. A three-member fact-finding delegation from the opposition All India Trinamool Congress, led by MP Sagarika Ghose, said it had verified reports of threats, attacks and restrictions on religious and civil rights during visits to Christian institutions and schools in Kolkata, North 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur.
Ghose said Christians in some areas had reportedly faced pressure to convert back to Hinduism, difficulties securing burial rights and restrictions affecting their civil rights. She also cited reports of church vandalism, intimidation of congregations and loud music being played near prayer meetings to disrupt worship.
The source report links the increase in tensions to developments following local elections in March, which saw the Bharatiya Janata Party return to power in Kolkata. The allegations of attacks and intimidation have added to concerns about relations between religious communities in a state where Christians and Hindus have historically lived alongside one another.
Based on reporting by AsiaNews.
