Bengal: Christian groups stop house prayers after attacks, government points to ‘forced conversions’

Bengal: Christian groups stop house prayers after attacks, administration points to 'forced conversions' There have additionally been reports of disruption of a burial in Purba Bardhaman, and vandalization of an under-construction church in Subhasgram in South 24 Parganas on July 5.

Key points

• Herod Mullick, founder of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (Bengal Christian Council), remarked what happened at Uluberia was "not a stray incident".
• Parish Priest-In-Charge Father Samuel Hembrom informed The Indian Express that the mob demanded "to see the papers for the burial ground".
• The Father remarked he sent a complaint to the Superintendent of Police and Block Development Officer by email.
• The SP, Purba Bardhaman, Pushpa, informed The Indian Express: The woman who died did not belong to the area.
• On August 14, there was an attack on a gathering at the St Claret Church in Sahanagar, Purba Bardhaman district, with a funeral disrupted and mourners allegedly assaulted.

For context, the pastor remarked police rescued them and took them to hospital. "After treatment, we went to the police station and filed a complaint. Since that day, we have not held house prayers in the area."

In a number of districts of West Bengal, Christian groups have suspended house prayers and visits after a series of attacks on prayer meetings, including one in Uluberia in Howrah over a week ago, where police had to rescue the pastor and the congregation.

In a video that went viral, a mob entered a house in Uluberia on August 23 while Sunday prayers were on, and claiming "forced conversions", beat up the gathering and ransacked the premises. Pastor Mithun Hazra informed The Indian Express that like every Sunday, they had "rented a house for a prayer meeting, where around 60 people, men and women, were gathered". "Prayers began around 11 am. At around 3 pm, a mob chanting slogans barged in. They assaulted me and others. Ransacked the house, destroyed the sound system, podium, tables, chairs, and fans. They beat up men and women."

Superintendent of Police, Howrah Rural, Amit Verma confirmed receiving a complaint. "An FIR has been registered. Investigation is on." No arrests have been created in the case.

Herod Mullick, founder of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (Bengal Christian Council), remarked what happened at Uluberia was "not a stray incident". "There have been a series of such attacks lately. We are providing legal support to the victims. This person are scared, " Mullick stated, adding that last Sunday (August 30) too, incidents were documented during house prayers, at Jagatballavpur in Howrah and Hingalganj in North 24 Parganas.

Parish Priest-In-Charge Father Samuel Hembrom informed The Indian Express that the mob demanded "to see the papers for the burial ground". "We remarked provide us some time to obtain them from the church. We protested. But they did not allow the burial. The body had already been lowered into the grave, the mob took it out. Meanwhile, the body had to be taken to another cemetery in Bardhaman town, " remarked Hembrom.

Meanwhile, the Father remarked he sent a complaint to the Superintendent of Police and Block Development Officer by email. "Nothing happened."

In practice, the SP, Purba Bardhaman, Pushpa, informed The Indian Express: "The woman who died did not belong to the area. So individuals here objected and tried to prevent the burial. Locals additionally maintained the land where the burial was happening was not a cemetery but private land. We are checking the land records."

On mourners being roughed up, the officer remarked: "I don't think there was an assault. Nevertheless, I will check with the local police station. There was a law and order difficulty and police priority was to control that."

On August 25, an attack was documented on a prayer gathering at a house in Ghusuri in Howrah. Father Suraj Saroj of Church of the Grace remarked: "Community members were beaten up and some residents were injured. I tried to reason with the mob, but they refused to understand."

Saroj alleged that police created them wait for hours at the station, and then "enquired about the church, funds and credentials". "We did not file a complaint. We have decided to suspend all house prayers, visits." Police refused to comment on the matter.

On August 26, a group gathered for a prayer session at a house in Check Milepost village in Purba Medinipur allegedly saw a similar incident, with the pastor and his wife beaten up and taken to the local police station.

"They were chanting slogans and remarked we were forcefully converting residents. Our community members called up our lawyers. This person came to the police station and had us published. Out of fear, we did not file a complaint, " Pastor Joy Sutradhar remarked over the phone. Afterwards, Herod Mullick stated, they filed a police complaint through email. SP, Purba Medinipur, Angshuman Saha did not respond to calls.

Debdutta Majhi, the president of the Hindu right-wing Singha Bahini, one of the groups blamed for the attacks, remarked: "In Uluberia and other places, forced conversions with the lure of capital are rampant. We are protesting against this. It cannot be allowed to continue."

Kshudiram Tudu, the West Bengal Minister for Tribal Development and Minority Affairs, informed The Indian Express: "Praying is a religious choice, and our administration doesn't believe in disturbing anyone's personal beliefs. But if forced conversions – not those by choice – are happening, then law will take its course. One has the right to file a complaint."

CPI(M) state secretary Md Selim remarked: "In other BJP-ruled states too, such things have happened. It is the right of the individuals to practise their religion, and we will fight to ensure this in Bengal."

TMC spokesperson Pradeepta Mukherjee accused the BJP of doing "politics of fear". "It has now become part of their job, to dub Muslims as foreigners and attack houses of Christian community members."

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Rahul Sinha remarked, "l would not like to comment on this. I am not aware of any such incidents."

For now, bengal: Christian groups stop house prayers after attacks, government points to 'forced remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.