A Christian prayer and discussion meeting was allegedly disrupted by members of the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch in the Gola More area of Harishchandrapur in West Bengal’s Malda district on Sunday, with allegations of vandalism and physical assaults leaving several people injured.
Police personnel from Harishchandrapur police station reached the area after receiving information about the incident.
The Malda Superintendent of Police said the disturbance occurred during a weekly prayer meeting and that the situation was subsequently brought under control. An investigation is underway.
Christian Community Alleges Vandalism, Assault
According to local accounts, members of the two Hindutva organisations received information on Sunday afternoon that religious conversion was allegedly taking place in the area.
A group subsequently arrived at a house where Christian missionaries were holding a prayer and discussion session.
Members of the Christian community alleged that the group entered the house and vandalised its contents. They further claimed that when they tried to stop the destruction, they were assaulted.
A Christian missionary denied that any conversion activity was taking place, saying the gathering was meant for prayer and discussion.
“No religious conversion was taking place. Discussions and prayers were going on. At that time, they attacked,” the missionary said.
Bajrang Dal, Hindu Jagran Manch Deny Allegations
Members of the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch rejected allegations of an unprovoked attack, claiming that people were being pressured to convert to Christianity.
They said they had gone to the location to protest against the alleged conversion activity.
The organisations also claimed that five of their members were injured during the confrontation and were receiving treatment at Harishchandrapur Rural Hospital.
Bajrang Dal Alleges Financial Inducements
Rhitam Das, North Malda district coordinator of the Bajrang Dal, alleged that financially vulnerable people were being persuaded to convert to Christianity through financial inducements allegedly provided by foreign sources.
Das claimed that more than 100 Hindu Scheduled Caste Mushar families live in the locality and that around 40 families had already converted to Christianity.
He further alleged that efforts to convert more people were continuing through offers of money from abroad.
