By Matters India Reporter
KOLKATA, July 27, 2026: A quiet Sunday prayer in Chararoypur Majer Para village in South 24 Parganas under Nodakhali Police Station turned into terror on July 26 when a mob stormed a house fellowship, assaulting worshipers and desecrating sacred symbols.
The incident has shaken Bengal’s Christian community, prompting Bangiya Christiya Pariseba or Bengal Christian Council (BCP), a united forum of denominational Christians in East and North-East India, to announce a sweeping seven‑point programme of peaceful mobilization.
The small congregation, which lacks an independent church building, had gathered at a private residence for weekly prayers.
According to Pastor Pintu Polley, who has led the fellowship for over seven years, about 25–30 believers assembled at 4:00 PM when “over 100 outsiders arrived on 30–40 motorcycles, barged into the house, pushed and assaulted female worshipers, and attacked me. My glasses were knocked off, I was slapped repeatedly and spat upon.”
The mob smashed the makeshift altar, broke the holy cross, tore Bibles and hymn books, and defaced the house with saffron paint. Pastor Polley’s motorcycle was also vandalized.
He recounted being forced to pose with religious texts smeared with saffron paint: “They thrust books into my hands and took photos and videos against my will.”
Pastor Pintu Polley recalled the ordeal: “They barged in, pushed the women, slapped me, spat on me, and broke the holy cross. My glasses were knocked off, and they forced me to pose with books I did not believe in.”
Congregants described hymnals and Bibles torn apart, walls smeared with saffron paint, and wallets seized. “Our children cry at night. We cannot risk meeting again,” said one worshiper, requesting anonymity.
Community leaders noted this was the second such attack within a kilometer in recent weeks. Traumatized families have suspended worship services, living in fear of retaliation.
In Kolkata, BCP condemned the violence and criticized the silence of the administration. Spokesperson Herod Mullick declared: “We cannot allow organized hate campaigns to dictate the future of inter‑community relationships. Our response will be peaceful, but firm.”
BCP’s seven‑point programme includes:
100 Regional Peace Rallies culminating in a mega prayer rally in Kolkata on November 5, 2026, expected to draw over 100,000 participants.
Intellectual Round‑Tables with writers, artists, and educators, beginning August 29 at Bishop’s College.
Interfaith Reflection Month (Aug 25 – Sept 25), honoring Saint Teresa of Calcutta.
Digital Awareness Campaign to counter false propaganda.
Legal Counteractions challenging baseless allegations of forced conversions.
Eastern India Joint Forum uniting Christian voices across 11 states.
Mega Prayer Rally as the centerpiece of solidarity and faith.
For survivors in South 24 Parganas, the announcement offers a glimmer of hope. “We feel abandoned, but knowing that thousands will march for peace gives us courage,” Pastor Polley said.
The BCP programme, rooted in prayer and dialogue, aims to reclaim dignity and security for Bengal’s Christians while inviting friends of all faiths to stand together.
There was a typing error. The corrected last sentence in my comments on BCP is:
Yet BCP tom-toms every now and then, that it wants to actively collaborate with the new state government in the development of West Bengal!
BCP is doing what is does best, that is ‘Cry Wolf (persecution)!’ I will repeat the question which I raised before. Instead of crying persecution all the time, how much Sustainable Development has BCP done starting with the grassroots levels where it claims to have an excellent network of members? What is its specific role in the field of Education, Health, Vocational Training, Livelihood Opportunities, and Women Empowerment (including self-defence training)? The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Calcutta reportedly gave BCP the go-ahead for a vigorous membership drive. BCP has never mentioned such membership drive go-ahead from its own CNI Bishops! What is its membership fee and what does it propose to do with the membership fees? Does BCP have a fund base/Corpus Fund? Will the funds so collected be used mainly to organise ‘Protest and Prayer Rallies’ instead of hardcore development work? Yet it trumpets every now and then, that BCP tom-toms that it wants to actively collaborate with the new state government in the development of West Bengal!