Mob vandalises new church in Bengal; bishop, worshippers assaulted

Kolkata: A newly constructed church was vandalised during its inauguration ceremony in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, with a mob of around 30 people attacking the bishop, priests and worshippers, including women.

The violence took place at Narayantala, under the jurisdiction of Basanti police station, when the attackers stormed the church during the ceremony led by Bishop Subrata Chakraborty. They damaged the church building and broke its cross before assaulting those attending the event.

The attackers also targeted women, demanding that they remove their traditional shakha bangles, a symbol worn by married Bengali Hindu women, and threatening them before forcing them out. Mobile phones belonging to people who attempted to record the assault were also smashed. The congregation members said the mob threatened to prevent any religious ceremonies from being held at the church in the coming days.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident.

Condemning the attack, Christian organisation Bangiya Christian Parishad (BCP) said the violence reflected a deliberate attempt to intimidate the minority community. BCP state secretary Herod Mallik highlighted the gravity of priests being assaulted during an inauguration attended by a bishop and accused groups taking the law into their own hands of targeting peaceful minorities.

The incident comes shortly after a similar case was reported in West Bengal's Paschim Medinipur district, where three families who had converted to Christianity 18 months ago were allegedly assaulted and threatened with violence unless they renounced their faith. The families also complained that they were being forced to participate in religious rituals against their will.