A series of attacks against persons, acts of vandalism, and intimidation targeting the Christian minority across the eastern Indian state of West Bengal in the past week has sparked widespread concern.

Church leaders and community representatives are urging state authorities to ensure protection for vulnerable communities and guarantee impartial investigations into the incidents.

The incidents began July 5 and included the targeted destruction of an under-construction church, an assault on a congregation during Sunday service, and the harassment of a Christian widow.

The destroyed church belonged to the Presbyterian Church of India. Reports say the site was brutally vandalized by a mob.

Catholic voices

Eugene Gonsalves, former National President of the All India Catholic Union (AICU) and former President of the Catholic Association of Bengal (CAB), told Crux Now the incidents were “deeply disturbing” and called for prompt action by the state authorities.

He said such incidents were unacceptable in a society governed by the Constitution of India and condemned all forms of targeted violence and intimidation against any religious community.

Stressing that India’s strength lies in its diversity, he said the Constitution guarantees every citizen the freedom to profess and practice their faith.

Attack on a Church

According to a report in The Indian Express, a mob vandalized the under-construction church, located in a neighborhood where a small community of Christian families reside, within the Subhasgram area of Sonarpur.

Subhasgram is a rapidly developing suburb of Sonarpur in the  southeastern quarter of the eastern Indian state, and is named after a highly controversial anti-colonial figure, Subhas Chandra Bose, an Indian nationalist who courted Nazi and Japanese support during WWII, whose ancestral home is located in the jurisdiction.

The report detailed that vandals broke down the church’s door, damaged two recently erected pillars, and destroyed three crosses installed atop the building after climbing onto its tin roof.

The mob allegedly also threatened the congregation.

The Indian Express also reported allegations from community members, who said the vandals identified themselves as part of the right-wing Hindu Jagran Manch, which tries to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.

The congregants told The Indian Express the vandals questioned their wearing shakha-pola (traditional conch shell and coral bangles) and sindur (vermilion), traditional Bengali Hindu symbols, despite being Christian.

Resident Champa Bhuiyan told The Indian Express the families, who have been inhabiting the area since 2017, have been wearing shakha-pola and sindur for generations.

“They alleged that we were converting people by luring them with money,” Bhuiyan said.

“We are poor families, Bhuiyan said, “where will we get that kind of money?”

A local leader of the Hindu Jagran Manch told the Indian Express the group had gone to question the community over conversion allegations after complaints from “hundreds of local Hindus.”

The church serves around 50 families with 116 members, who previously prayed in a rented room before construction began in March on land the community had purchased.

Following the incident, locals contacted the police, who detained three youths.

Also according to The Indian Express, a criminal complaint filed with police includes charges of criminal trespass, mischief causing damage, and criminal intimidation.

A senior Baruipur police district officer added that the situation is now peaceful and an investigation is underway.

Other incidents – and a call for ‘internal purification’

In separate incidents reported by siasat.com, a Christian widow was intimidated in Murshidabad, a prayer meeting was disrupted in Bankura, and a congregation in Faridpur was assaulted.

In tandem with demanding state protection, the spokesman for West Bengal’s Bangiyo Christiyo Pariseba (BCP) Christian advocacy organization urgent appealed to clergy and Christian leaders across the state, calling for vigilance and internal purification.

In a statement issued July 10, the BCP leadership cautioned that “certain unscrupulous individuals are establishing pseudo-churches under the guise of Christianity solely to exploit faith for personal enrichment and commercial trade.”

The statement noted that these elements are “not only misusing the holy name of Jesus Christ for personal financial gain, but they are also deeply tarnishing the glorious, centuries-old legacy and image built by the true Christian community.”

He added that their actions “inadvertently provide ammunition to religious fanatics and extremist forces.”

BCP urged leaders to provide verified information on suspicious entities, concluding that “our internal purification and absolute unity are our greatest shields in protecting the sanctity and security of the Christian community.”