By Matters India Reporter
Moninathpur, June 17, 2026: Christian families in Moninathpur village, Paschim Medinipur district of West Bengal, are living in fear after the body of a 60-year-old believer was forcibly exhumed.
The remains were cremated three days after burial, according to a report by the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), a united forum of denominational Christians in East and North East India.
The incident occurred June 10 in Moninathpur, under Narayangarh Police Station, where about 8 to 10 Santhal families have embraced Christianity. “This is neither a thrilling fiction, nor a mythological tale, nor a cheap social media ‘reel’—it is a brutal and harrowing reality,” the report said.
The deceased, Arjan Bag, died of age related ailments. His sons, Ajit and Pradeep Bag, buried him on family land in accordance with his last wishes and Christian rites, since no cemetery exists in the area. Parish priests Father Xaviers Kujur and Father Sudhir Tudu had advised the family on funeral arrangements.
But opposition quickly arose. BCP reported that “some people of different faiths from the local and neighboring villages strongly objected to the burial.”
Tensions escalated when “a mob of over a hundred people, including neighbors Shri Rakhal Bag and Pulakesh De, forcefully exhumed the mortal remains of the late Arjan Bag from the grave and cremated the body at a nearby crematorium.”
Community in panic
The exhumation has left Christian families traumatized. “Currently, the Christian families of Moninathpur village are living in extreme panic and insecurity. Worship services at their church have come to a complete standstill,” BCP wrote.
The small congregation worships at Saint Mother Teresa Church, a house based branch church established by Samar Banda, the village’s first Christian convert.
Community leaders say the act was a grave violation of religious freedom.
“Whether it is cremation on a pyre, burial at sea, or interment in the ground—if any funeral rite is not performed according to one’s own religious traditions, there can be no greater sacrilege or mental torture inflicted upon the soul of the deceased and their family,” BCP noted.
Yishai Singh of the Bangiya Khristiya Parisad and State Coordinator Victor Behera are supporting the families and pursuing legal remedies.
However, BCP reported allegations that “despite repeated contact with the police station, the police are playing a nominal role, and the main accused remain at large.”
The report concludes with an appeal: “An earnest appeal is being made to the high ranking officials of the administration and conscientious citizens of society to stand by these helpless and terrified people for the sake of religious freedom and humanity.”
(Photo supplied)
The above incident is very disconcerting, to say the least. In this regard, I received the following WhatsApp message on Saturday 13th June from Mr Bhanu Murmu who is a son of the soil:
Rev. Fr. Anthony Rodrick, the Episcopal Vicar of Medinipur Vicariate
I write this to give you the latest update of the incident that took place on 10th June 2026 at Maninathpur substation. The villagers of the deceased gathered in big numbers n took out the body and cremated on the side of the grave on 12th June afternoon. Police reached the spot towards the evening and called both the parties to Narayangarh thana for a kind of settlement. Police didn’t take any action in the village and against the villagers.
However, the two sons and other Catholic members of Maninathpur around 6 of them went to thana around 8 pm and other non-catholic party also came around 9 pm in a big number.
The police authority first asked two brothers n the Catholic party what they wanted, they answered, solution for what had taken place in the village.
And they called the non-catholic party and chided them strongly that they have committed a big crime by taking out the dead body from the grave and burnt it, they could be in a big trouble. And then police made a statement that the family members of the deceased have left their old religion and out of their own choice become Christian. So thereafter no one should/will threaten them and other Catholic people in the village, they are free to practice their faith and pray there. If anyone found threatening or harassing the family or Christian community there they will be arrested.
And police took the signature of both the parties present there. But this resolution which was made in thana not given to anyone, it was kept in police station.
After this both the sons of the deceased n other Church members returned home around 11:30 pm. This is the very sensitive issue and it is very alarming. The Christian people of Maninathpur are frightened and discouraged very much because it was a first Christian burial there and it was dug out n taken for cremation.
I feel it is high time to take some safety measures to protect and help our Church members in some legal way. Therefore my humble suggession would be that either diocese level or deanery level our Church higher authority should have connection/approach with DM or with some higher civil authorities to help us out in this kind of dangerous and challenging situations.
Thank you
Fr. Xavier
Church Balichak