By Matters India Reporter
Kolkata, August 3, 2026: Swift police intervention and community solidarity thwarted an attempted intimidation at the Church of Divine Mercy, Bamanpukur Parish under Baruipur diocese, where intruders unlawfully demanded coerced religious directives.
According to Parish Priest Father Pradip Dari, around noon a man identifying himself as Swami Shiba Nanda Maharaj of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) entered the parish premises with nearly 15 associates.
He aggressively interrogated the priest, accused the parish of targeting marginalized Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities for conversion, and provocatively insisted that all Christians “return to Sanatan Dharma.”
These groups are officially recognized groups that receive special protection and affirmative action under the Constitution of India to help fix past social and economic unfairness
As word spread, parishioners rapidly assembled, while Father Dari alerted the Minakhan Police Station.
Officers promptly arrived, escorted the intruder for questioning, and later met with Father Dari and parishioners.
Sub‑Inspector Molay Mondal expressed regret over the disturbance, reaffirmed citizens’ constitutional right to practice their faith freely, and issued a stern warning to the intruder against interfering in church activities.
Local political leaders also extended apologies and pledged support for peace and security.
Though reassured by swift police action, parishioners dispersed amid lingering anxiety and trauma.
The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP) has advised formal representations to the Superintendent of Police and District Magistrate, citing failures in Sandeshkhali where delayed action emboldened miscreants to target churches in Nazat and Bamanpukur.
The BCP has urgently called upon all churches across West Bengal to establish Community Alert and Resistance Groups (Protirodh Groups) to ensure rapid mobilization, mutual protection, and immediate documentation during crises.END
With the recent change in political leadership in West Bengal, certain fundamentalist Hindu elements have aggressively targeted the Christian community and Church. Several sections of the Christian community were under the impression that such attacks would never occur against them.
In reality, the wave of these attacks has manifested in Catholic Churches located in the Sundarbans region of North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on 31st July 2026 and 3rd August 2026. What is now of paramount importance is to determine the course of action to be adopted by the entire Christian fraternity, and particularly by the leadership of the Catholic Church, in response to these incidents. In my considered opinion, resolution of this situation cannot be achieved merely by lodging complaints with the police.
Rather, it is imperative to engage in direct dialogue with the concerned fundamentalists and to clarify that the misconceptions and misinformation being propagated by them are not endorsed by any Christian denomination or Church.
On the contrary, the Christian community has always worked in unity with all citizens of India for the protection of the sovereignty and integrity of the nation.