West Bengal woman alleges assault, forced religious conversion by Bajrang Dal-linked group
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A Christian woman in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district has alleged that a group of people associated with the Bajrang Dal assaulted her, stripped her, and forcibly took her and other family members to a Durga Puja pandal for religious rituals against their will.
The woman, a resident of Patlapur, filed a complaint alleging that the group pressured three Christian families to renounce their faith. She said the accused threatened to burn them alive if they approached the police.
According to the complaint, the incident began on October 18 when the group arrived at her house. She said that Ranjit Dolui struck her on the head and below the ear, causing her to lose consciousness. “When I was partially conscious, I realised that my clothes had been torn off and that Ranjit Dolui, Pacha Patra and Bapi Mondal had removed my saree,” the complaint read.
The group threatened her 16-year-old daughter with rape and said they would “get her married to a Muslim boy”. Another girl, aged 15, was held by the throat with the intention of killing her. The complaint also accused a group member of assaulting two other women with a bamboo stick and stealing Rs 20,000.
The complainant said some accused took her, her husband and three others to a Durga Puja pandal in Dingal village on October 19. “There, we were forced to perform specific religious rituals against our will,” she said.
Police in Chandrakona registered a case against at least 13 people on October 20 under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those relating to attempt to murder. No arrests had been made as of 6.30 pm on October 24. Police protection has been provided to the families.
Congress leader KC Venugopal urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to ensure the accused were arrested. Trinamool Congress MP Sagarika Ghose also alleged that Christians in Bengal were facing threats and attacks over their faith. The BJP had not responded to the allegations as of October 24.