Three Christian families in Bengal allege forced conversion, assault by Bajrang Dal workers

Kolkata: Three Christian families in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district have alleged that they were intimidated, assaulted and pressured to abandon Christianity by Bajrang Dal workers on Tuesday, October 20.

The families told lawyers and civil society activists that the harassment began on October 18 and continued until October 20. They also said they were forced to offer anjali at a Durga Puja pandal on October 19.

According to the lawyer handling their case, a group of Bajrang Dal members visited the home of one family on October 18 and 19 and demanded that they give up their faith. When the family refused, they were assaulted, the lawyer said, citing an account published by Maktoob Media.

“A woman was allegedly hit on the head so badly that she lost consciousness,” the lawyer said. He added that the woman was vaguely aware that her saree was being removed and that she was forced to bathe as part of a purported purification ritual.

Three other families under the jurisdiction of Chandrakona police station were also subjected to similar harassment, the victims alleged. They said Bajrang Dal workers choked a 14-year-old girl and tore her clothes.

“Three families in the area were targeted. In one family, a girl of about 14 years old was allegedly strangled, and her clothes were torn in front of others. The attackers reportedly threatened to kidnap and rape her. Her family has moved her to another place,” the lawyer said.

The families were allegedly threatened with being set on fire if they approached the police. The lawyer further claimed that when they sought police assistance, officials told them to comply with the group if they wanted to survive.

On Tuesday morning, around 7.30 am, the husbands of all three families were reportedly taken away, while the women were told they would be taken to a temple for “rituals”.

Civil society members said the alleged perpetrators were either Bajrang Dal workers or had links to the organisation, according to Maktoob Media.

“The families do not want to give up their faith. They want to file a complaint but are afraid, as the police also harassed them. They want to get out of the village first,” the lawyer said.

An India Hate Lab report has recorded at least 60 incidents targeting Christians across 13 districts of West Bengal between May 13 and September 20, 2026. The report said such incidents had increased since the BJP came to power in the state, with some attackers citing the change in government.