Between 13 May and 20 September 2026, a tally compiled by India Hate Lab (IHL) recorded at least 60 anti‑Christian incidents across 13 districts of West Bengal, the report says. The surge follows the BJP’s assumption of power in the state, with some perpetrators openly citing the political shift.
Out of the sixty cases, fifty‑two involved raids on private prayer meetings, homes, churches or rented venues where Christians gathered. The remaining eight incidents comprised physical assaults, mob violence or outright vandalism. Additionally, the period saw five public hate‑speech events targeting Christians—occasionally alongside Muslims—and three protests alleging forced conversions.
South 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur bore the brunt, each registering thirteen raids. Hindutva outfits most frequently identified were Hindu Jagran Manch/Bangiya Hindu Jagaran, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Bajrang Dal, Hindu Suraksha Samiti, Hindu Ekta Manch and Hindu Sanghati. Typical raids saw members entering worship spaces, accusing organizers of conversion activities, demanding Aadhaar details and, in some instances, questioning women about wearing sakha‑pola or sindoor.
Documented hotspots include Chandrakona, Gosaba, Canning and Basanti during May‑June; Sandeshkhali in July where VHP and BJP affiliates were named; Hingalganj in Uttar Dinajpur where Hindu Jagran Manch members queried why the Bible was read instead of the Gita; and Barrackpore where VHP and Bajrang Dal assaulted several Christian women, branding them as conversion agents.
Violent flare‑ups were recorded on 10 June, when Hindu Jagran Manch members vandalised a church in South 24 Parganas, and on 5 July in Subhashgram, where nationalist supporters shattered crosses on a church under construction while chanting “Jai Shri Ram”. Similar attacks were noted in Magrahat and Howrah.
Police presence during many raids often turned into detentions of Christian attendees after accusations from Hindutva groups. In Raniganj, a mob led by VHP activist Shubham Raut handed over two dozen worshippers to police for conversion probes; comparable detentions occurred in Midnapore, Purulia, Hijla, Kulpi and Bhatpara.
Image: siasat.com
📰 Source: Siasat Gulf