By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, August 19, 2026: A violent mob attack on Pastor Joy Sutradhar, a veteran Christian leader serving Satgachia in Purba Bardhaman district of West Bengal for over two decades, has left his family traumatized and the local community shaken.
According to reports, a group of 20–25 miscreants stormed into the pastor’s residence, August 18, 2026, ordering his family to vacate immediately.
When Pastor Joy resisted, he was subjected to a brutal assault, collapsing under the thrashing. His daughter’s attempt to record the incident was thwarted with threats.
Local sources note that Pastor Joy has faced repeated intimidation since the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, with miscreants issuing regular threats.
Following the attack, he fled to Memari Police Station, but was too terrified to lodge a formal complaint.
The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba or Bengal Christian Council ((BCP) Legal Cell intervened swiftly, drafting and dispatching a police complaint via email to the District Superintendent of Police and Memari Police Station.
Advocates assured the pastor of legal support and advised immediate medical treatment to document injuries for evidence.
At present, Pastor Joy, his wife, and daughter remain in extreme fear and insecurity, reluctant to return home without protection.
Speaking on behalf of BCP, founding secretary Herod Mullick condemned the incident: “This barbaric attack is not just on one pastor but on the entire Christian community’s right to live and serve in peace. We demand immediate police action and protection for Pastor Joy and his family.”
BCP has appealed to the wider Christian community to uphold the family in prayer, seeking strength and safety during this crisis.
(Photo supplied)