An ecumenical Christian organisation in West Bengal has reported 26 alleged attacks against Christians, churches and prayer gatherings over the past three months and called on the state government to take immediate action.
Leaders of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), also known as the Bengal Christians Council, raised the concerns at a press conference on 17 September. The organisation said it had prepared a memorandum and planned to meet Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari to discuss a rise in attacks against Christians.
The memorandum said the council represented more than 1.3 million Christians across West Bengal and described the reported incidents as causing growing fear and insecurity within the Christian community.
BCP founding secretary Herod Mullick said Christians and Christian institutions were being targeted through what he described as false claims and hostile propaganda about conversions, as well as through harassment and physical violence.
“These are not merely attacks on buildings or religious symbols. They cause deep pain to ordinary believers who want only to worship peacefully and live without fear,” Mullick told UCA News.
According to the memorandum, Christians filed 11 police complaints following the reported attacks, but the cases had not been properly investigated.
Father I. P. Sarto, a priest and activist from the Diocese of Asansol, said most of the reported incidents involved house churches and small prayer communities. He said their smaller size could make them vulnerable to groups that may have political motives.
Father Peppin Gyan of the Archdiocese of Calcutta said the situation was a concern but urged Christians to remain united and work together to promote communal harmony.
BCP president Subir Sircar said Christians in West Bengal had not previously experienced what he described as this level of attacks and harassment from followers of other faiths. He attributed the reported increase to the BJP coming to power, while the allegations have not been independently established in the information provided.
BCP leaders also alleged that some victims had been discouraged or prevented from filing criminal complaints, meaning the reported figure could be lower than the actual number of incidents.
The organisation called on police to register complaints promptly and investigate allegations of violence impartially. It also urged the authorities to provide adequate protection for churches, prayer halls and other Christian institutions across West Bengal.
Based on reporting by UCA News.
