By Matters India Reporter
KOLKATA, August 1, 2026: A disturbing pattern of intimidation has emerged in South 24 Parganas, where the same saffron‑clad man has now threatened two Christian pastors in consecutive days — first in Sandeshkhali, and then at the St. Claret Catholic Church in Nazat.
On July 31, the pastor in Sandeshkhali was confronted by the man, who accused him of foreign‑funded activities and demanded that he leave the region.
Barely 24 hours later, the same individual appeared at Nazat, leading a mob into the parish compound and issuing a seven‑day ultimatum to Father Anuj Hembrom, the Priest‑in‑Charge.
Video footage provided by Father Hembrom to the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP) captures the aggressor pointing a finger at the priest and shouting: “Go away to America or New Zealand! They are funding you from there to do all this. Pack up your bags and leave from here!”
“This is the same man who threatened the Sandeshkhali pastor yesterday. Now he has come to Nazat with the same intimidation,” Father Hembrom told the BCP Legal Cell, visibly shaken by the repeated targeting.
Missionaries at Claret Premaloy in Nazat Mission say they are facing mounting pressure after repeated threats from Hindu fundamentalists demanding they leave the area.
On July 31, “a group of Hindu fundamentalists from the local village forcibly entered our mission premises,” according to an information note circulated by the Claretian Missionaries.
The intruders accused the missionaries of “converting tribal people and utilizing foreign funds to construct a large church.”
The group issued an ultimatum, warning the missionaries to quit the mission within seven days or face forcible closure. The threats continued the following morning, when three members of the same group returned and “repeated the same threat.”
Father Peter Johnson, Major Superior of the Claretian Missionaries, said diocesan leaders have been informed and legal steps are underway.
“Consulted our advocate and will be filing an FIR (police report) at the local police station,” the note stated. A Parish Council meeting has also been convened to “discuss and strategize our response to this challenge.”
Johnson appealed for solidarity from the wider Claretian family. The Claretian Missionaries, founded in Spain in the 19th century, have long been active in India, focusing on education, pastoral care, and social outreach.
“I earnestly request all Claretians to join together in fervent prayer for the protection of our missionaries and the strengthening of the faithful,” he wrote.
Communities have been asked to hold one hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, interceding for “courage, peace, and divine intervention.”
The incident highlights ongoing tensions in parts of India where Christian missions operate among tribal communities.
“May the Lord safeguard our mission and grant us the grace to stand brave and bear witness to the Gospel in this hour of trial,” Father Johnson said.
The back‑to‑back incidents have heightened fears among the Christian community in South 24 Parganas, already unsettled by rising sectarian tensions.
The repetition of the same aggressor across two parishes underscores a deliberate campaign of intimidation, raising urgent questions about law enforcement’s ability to protect vulnerable clergy and parishioners.
(Photo supplied)