Hindutva mob attacks Christian worshippers in West Bengal’s Burdwan, forces ‘Jai Sri Ram’ chants

A group of around 40 men allegedly stormed a house church in Rayan village in West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district on November 1, assaulting a pastor and several Christian worshippers during a Sunday prayer service.

The attackers accused the congregation of converting Hindus by offering incentives and running a ‘honey trap’, according to an investigation by Alt News.

Survivors told the news outlet that they were forced to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ and warned that worshipping Jesus would not be tolerated in the area.

“This is a Hindu area; worshipping Jesus will not be tolerated,” the attackers allegedly told them.

Several worshippers sustained serious injuries in the assault. Survivors said they remained traumatised and had received neither administrative protection nor assurances against further harassment.

A written complaint was initially submitted at Burdwan police station. However, the survivors alleged that they were forced to withdraw it after some of the attackers entered the police station and threatened to kill the complainant.

Alt News spoke to pastor Chottu Ruidas, who was leading the prayer service, and several other survivors about the incident.

Ruidas said the congregation had gathered at the house of Sushanta Majila around 10am. The service was nearing its conclusion, with worshippers participating in communion, when around 40 men arrived, shouting ‘Jai Sri Ram’ slogans.

According to Ruidas, Bisweshwar Choudhury, an influential and wealthy village resident known for helping people in need, was among the attackers. He approached Ruidas during the service and allegedly slapped him.

“Thereafter, the goons accompanying Choudhury started beating us mercilessly,” Ruidas told. “They slapped us, kicked us and beat us with the bamboo sticks they were carrying. They even took off their belts and whipped us.”

Ruidas said a 17-year-old boy suffered a serious head injury and was left bleeding profusely.

“The goons told him, ‘We have treated you. Now go to a doctor and get it fixed,’” he recounted.

The attackers allegedly dragged worshippers out of the house and assaulted them. Those who tried to take shelter in neighbouring homes were also pursued and beaten, Ruidas said.

He said other worshippers had locked him inside a kitchen to protect him, but the attackers broke open the door and dragged him out.

“My elder sister hugged me and fell to the ground while trying to protect me. But they continued kicking us. My sister eventually fell unconscious, and I had to take her to a nearby dispensary,” he said.

Ruidas said he tried to contact the police while hiding inside the kitchen but could not get through. He subsequently informed Pastor Jose Bernard, who contacted the police.

Bernard told that he called Burdwan police station two or three times, but the police allegedly did not take the matter seriously. He eventually called the emergency helpline 112, following which police personnel arrived at the village.

Bernard said his wife and minor daughter were also among those attending the prayer service.

By the time police reached the scene, several of the attackers had fled. He alleged that those who remained accused the worshippers of starting a fight with them.

According to Bernard, police then detained 20 women, three minors and eight men from the Christian congregation instead of taking action against the alleged attackers.

Bernard categorically denied allegations that the congregation had engaged in forced conversions or offered inducements to convert.

Worshippers detained, pastor threatened at police station

The detainees were first taken to Bardhaman Medical College and Hospital, where a doctor examined them inside the vehicle. They were subsequently taken to the police station and kept in two separate rooms.

Bernard later submitted a written complaint at the police station. However, he alleged that shortly afterwards, a group of attackers entered the premises, grabbed him by the collar and threatened to kill him unless he withdrew the complaint.

“They entered the police station, grabbed me by the collar, physically intimidated me and threatened to kill me if I did not withdraw my complaint. And all of this happened in front of the police,” Bernard told Alt News.

He alleged that police personnel did little beyond telling the men, “There are CCTV cameras here; leave the premises.”

Bernard said the threats and intimidation eventually forced him to withdraw the complaint. He told that he had pleaded with both the attackers and police to ensure that Christians in Rayan village would not face further harassment.

He recalled the attackers saying: “This is our government. A Hindu government. A Hindu country. Worshipping Jesus is not allowed. They have to bathe in the Ganga, and we will perform ‘ghar wapsi’.”

Bernard further alleged that the officer-in-charge of Burdwan police station, Debabrata Mukherjee, questioned the congregation about why they had gathered to pray in the first place.

When the worshippers and Bernard tried to explain, Mukherjee allegedly asked why they were taking such risks when people were being assaulted for doing so in several places.

The women were eventually released from the police station around 11pm, while the men were released around 1am.

However, speaking to Alt News, Mukherjee denied that the attackers had entered the police station and threatened Bernard into withdrawing his complaint.

“They submitted a complaint and, after some time, retracted it. No one threatened them inside the police station,” he said, adding that locals had filed counter-complaints against the congregation.

Asked why the injured worshippers had been kept at the police station for several hours, Mukherjee said their families had not arrived to take them home.

The officer declined to answer further questions over the phone.

Elderly woman allegedly assaulted at home

Another worshipper, Sagari Konai, managed to escape the initial attack and returned to her home. However, a group of men allegedly followed her there and assaulted her, leaving her with a fractured finger, the pastors told.

Ruidas alleged that the attackers forced Konai to perform sit-ups while holding her ears and apologise for practising Christianity. She was also allegedly coerced into participating in Hindu rituals at a nearby temple.

Konai is an elderly widow who lives with her daughter.

The incident has left the survivors deeply shaken. Ruidas said he was still experiencing pain from his injuries and was afraid to return to his home in Rayan village. He is currently staying with Bernard.

Bernard said the violence had also deeply affected his young daughter, who witnessed the attack.

“She has never been exposed to such brutal hatred unfolding before her eyes. I wonder whether these people are animals,” he said.