By Matters India Reporter
Murshidabad, May 6, 2026: Barely a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) celebrated its electoral victory in West Bengal on May 5, tension flared in Murshidabad district when 25–30 BJP activists allegedly vandalized the home of Barnali Chatterjee, a Christian widow living near Muktidham Church.
Barnali, wife of the late Soumendra Nath Chatterjee, resides in Boseganj, Post Office Cossimbazaar (also spelled Kasimbazar or Cossim Bazar), a historic suburb of Berhampore known for its colonial heritage, palaces, and Christian missionary presence.
According to the FIR, the first information report prepared by police when they receive a complaint, around 12:30 p.m. on May 5, activist Chandran Das and a group of cadres forcibly entered her home, vandalized property, and threatened her to stop worshiping Jesus and holding prayer meetings. They allegedly demanded she donate her house to be converted into a Hindu temple.
Chatterjee resisted and immediately approached police with support from fellow believers. The FIR, registered at Berhampore Police Station, details the threats and vandalism.
Police response
Following the complaint, police and CRPF personnel visited the site and confirmed the allegations. Officers instructed neighbors not to disturb her in practicing her faith and assured her freedom to worship at home.
The incident, coming in the wake of the BJP’s victory, has raised concerns about the safety of minority communities in Murshidabad, which has a long Christian presence through schools, dispensaries, and churches in Berhampore, Polsondamore, Azimganj, and Monigram, alongside the historic Muktidham Church in Jagtai.
Local Christian leaders have appealed for prayers and solidarity, urging protection for persecuted believers and highlighting the contributions of Christian institutions in education, healthcare, and social service across the district.
Christian Legacy in Murshidabad
Christianity in Murshidabad dates to the colonial era, when European missionaries—particularly from the London Missionary Society—established schools, hospitals, and churches to serve local communities.
The London Missionary Hospital at Jiaganj (1894) became a landmark of medical and social service, offering healthcare to thousands.
Over the decades, Christian institutions have contributed significantly to education and social uplift in Murshidabad. Mission schools provided modern education to children from diverse backgrounds, while churches became centers of prayer, community support, and interfaith dialogue.
Christian initiatives have consistently emphasized healthcare, literacy, and empowerment of marginalized groups, leaving a lasting imprint on the district’s social fabric.
Below is the copy of the FIR in Bengali.
