Indian police jail Christians and spare Hindu mob that attacked them
Six worshippers, including four women, were sent to custody on conversion allegations after Hindu extremists stormed private home, assaulted Christians and vandalized furniture during prayers
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Six Christians have been jailed in eastern India after a Hindu mob stormed a Sunday prayer gathering inside a private home, assaulted worshippers and then accused them of carrying out religious conversions.
Four women were sent to judicial custody and two men to police custody following the Aug. 16 attack in West Bengal’s Medinipur district, according to UCA News. They are expected to remain in custody until their next court hearing Aug. 21.
The Christians had gathered at the home of Asit Murmu in Dharma Rohilla village for Sunday prayers. Murmu said the gathering was voluntary and had been organized to give thanks following the recovery of a family member from illness.
The prayer service was disrupted when a group of Hindus entered the house, damaged furniture and other belongings and accused those inside of illegally converting people to Christianity.
Sagar Palmal, a high school student who witnessed the attack, said the group barged into the house and began breaking furniture and attacking worshippers. His mother was among the Christians later jailed.
Christian leaders said women and children were also caught up in the violence. Victor Behera, state coordinator of the ecumenical Bengal Christian Council, said the attackers did not spare women who were holding young children during the prayer gathering.
Herod Mullick, founder secretary of the council, said worshippers, including women and children, were subjected to physical abuse for about three hours.
But it was the attackers who called police following the disruption. Officers subsequently detained 16 women, some accompanied by their children, and four men from the Christian gathering. Six were later jailed as authorities pursued allegations of unlawful religious conversion.
The arrests have intensified concern among Christian groups over a pattern in India in which Hindu extremist organizations accuse prayer meetings and other ordinary Christian religious activities of being fronts for conversion, leading to police action against worshippers even when Christians report intimidation or violence.
Father Dominic Gomes, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, said similar incidents being reported elsewhere in West Bengal pointed to growing lawlessness.
He called on authorities to protect the safety and dignity of citizens, investigate attacks against Christians impartially and take action against those responsible.
John Dayal, spokesperson for the All India Catholic Union, accused Hindu mobs of becoming emboldened following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s rise to power in West Bengal.
“The state’s silence is complicity,” Dayal said, warning that the response raised serious concerns over the safety of Christians.
Christian organizations across India have repeatedly warned of growing attacks on churches, prayer gatherings and pastors amid the increasing influence of Hindu nationalist groups, which frequently portray Christian evangelism and conversion as threats to India’s Hindu identity.
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