BCP Alleges Series of Church Attacks in West Bengal, Plans Fact-Finding Visit and Protest

KOLKATA, July 9, 2026: Bangiyo Christiyo Pariseba (BCP), a Christian advocacy organisation in West Bengal, has alleged a series of coordinated attacks on churches, Christian institutions and members of the Christian community across the state, and announced a fact-finding visit to affected areas along with a peaceful protest seeking stronger government intervention.

In a press statement issued on July 8, the organisation claimed that incidents reported over the past month followed a recurring pattern in which attacks on Christians were allegedly followed by police complaints accusing them of forced religious conversion, accompanied by the circulation of videos aimed at influencing public opinion. BCP alleged that such actions were intended to weaken the Christian community through legal and social pressure.

Among the incidents highlighted was an alleged attack on July 4 in the Palbari area of Paschim Medinipur, where a thanksgiving prayer service and wedding reception for a newly married Christian couple was reportedly disrupted by a group of extremists. BCP claimed that women from both Christian and Hindu families attending the gathering were physically assaulted and that some had their traditional marital symbols, including Sindoor and Shakha-Pala, forcibly removed. The organisation further alleged that although police personnel were present, they failed to stop the attackers and instead detained Pastor Rev. Anup Ghosh on what it described as unfounded allegations.

The organisation also drew attention to an alleged attack on Grace Church in Faridpur Colony under Katwa subdivision of Purba Bardhaman on July 5. According to BCP, a mob armed with sticks entered the church during Sunday worship, vandalised the prayer hall and residential quarters, and looted ₹25,000 in cash, mobile phones, trophies and personal documents. The organisation further alleged that the church had received an extortion demand of ₹2 lakh before the attack and that police did not act despite an apprehension complaint submitted a day earlier.

BCP also referred to another incident reported on July 5 in Buri Bot Tala, Subhas Gram, Sonarpur, in South 24 Parganas, where it alleged that a mob chanting religious slogans damaged a newly constructed church, demolished the cross installed on its roof and vandalised its doors. The organisation claimed that local police initially refused to acknowledge the complaint and that an FIR was registered only after intervention by the BCP Legal Cell. It further alleged that the police omitted provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to outraging religious feelings and damaging places of worship.

The organisation also cited a similar incident at Bethel Church in Boroboti, Kharagpur, and the subsequent arrest of its pastor, saying such incidents had created an atmosphere of fear among Christians in the state.

In response, BCP announced that a delegation comprising church leaders, clergy and community representatives would visit the vandalised church in Sonarpur on July 11 to assess the situation and express solidarity with the affected families.

The organisation also announced a peaceful demonstration on July 14 from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. in front of Statesman House at Chowringhee Square in Kolkata to protest what it described as continuing attacks on Christians and their places of worship.

BCP said it would submit a memorandum to the Governor of West Bengal and the Chief Minister seeking immediate measures to safeguard constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and ensure the security of minority communities.

Among its demands, the organisation called for an independent investigation into each reported incident, the arrest of those responsible for the alleged attacks, application of relevant legal provisions in the Sonarpur case, withdrawal of charges against Pastor Anup Ghosh and others, and enhanced security for churches and Christian families.

The statement concluded with an appeal to church leaders, civil society organisations and citizens to work together to uphold communal harmony and protect the state's secular character.

By Catholic Connect Reporter