Medinipur: Three Christian families in a village in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district were subjected to a three-day ordeal of threats, physical attacks, and pressure to change their religious practices, according to a police complaint. The local police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 13 people, though no arrests have been made so far.The trouble started on October 18 in Patlapur village, under the Chandrakona police station.
Laxmi Mondal, a 40-year-old woman who converted to Christianity three years ago, said a group from nearby areas barged into her home while she was doing chores. The group dragged her outside, beat her, and tore her clothes before she lost consciousness.
Her family members reported that the attackers also threatened her teenage daughter and told them that Christians would not be allowed to live in the area.The crowd then moved to the homes of Mondal’s relatives nearby. Family members were hit with rods, personal savings were stolen, and a teenage girl was assaulted.
The group threatened to set their homes on fire if they went to the authorities. Although the family called the emergency helpline and a police team visited that evening, the officers left soon after without setting up guards, leaving the families surrounded through the night.The next day, members of the group returned and took Mondal, her sister-in-law, and their husbands to a local Durga Puja pandal in a nearby village.
Under pressure, the four were made to take part in traditional prayer rituals and offer flowers. On the third day, Mondal’s husband was taken away for several hours and warned of serious harm if the family did not renounce Christianity.Following the complaint, police registered charges including attempt to murder, assault, theft, and criminal intimidation.
Officers have now posted guards outside the homes to protect the families while an investigation continues into the incident and the identities of those involved.
