Christian family in India attacked, pressured to embrace Hinduism
Christian couple says mobs attacked home for three days, assaulted them before children and demanded they abandon faith for Hinduism
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Christian family in eastern India says mobs repeatedly attacked their home over three days, assaulted the parents in front of their young children and pressured them to renounce Christianity and embrace Hinduism.
The attacks were reported between Sept. 16 and 18 in Ghoraberia Dakshin Bhatora, a village in West Bengal state’s Howrah district, where Putul Manna and her husband, Kanchan Manna, had been holding Christian prayer gatherings at their home.
According to a police complaint filed by the couple, the confrontation began when a crowd of nearly 200 people entered their property and demanded that they abandon Christianity and adopt Sanatan Hinduism, a term commonly used to refer to traditional Hindu religious belief and practice.
The family said the intimidation continued the following night, when they were surrounded again, verbally abused and physically assaulted in front of their two minor children.
Around 40 people returned during another attack the next day, according to the complaint. The group allegedly entered the family’s home and threw their belongings outside in what the couple described as an attempt to drive them from the property.
Putul said she was dragged by her hair and beaten, while her husband was also assaulted.
The couple further accused the attackers of attempting to force them to sign a document declaring that they had disowned their children, adding another layer of coercion to what the family says was an effort to make them abandon their Christian faith.
The family has asked police to register criminal charges against those accused of participating in the attacks and provide protection to the couple and their children, saying they fear further violence.
The case comes amid mounting concern among Indian Christian organizations over attacks, intimidation and disruption of religious gatherings, particularly accusations that Christians are carrying out religious conversions. Christian groups have repeatedly said such allegations are frequently used to target ordinary prayer meetings and pastors.
West Bengal’s Christian community has itself reported a series of attacks and disruptions in recent months. Christian organizations have documented incidents involving churches and house-prayer gatherings, assaults on pastors and worshippers, destruction of religious materials and interference with Christian burials.
The reported violence has raised concerns over the ability of Christians, who constitute a small minority in Hindu-majority India, to practice and propagate their religion without intimidation.
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