A grotto dedicated to Mother Mary was allegedly vandalised and uprooted near a church in Khari Bamuner Chak village under Raidighi in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, prompting concern among members of the local Christian community.
The incident reportedly took place on Sunday night and came to light on Monday morning when a resident, Babul Malik, noticed the damage and informed local Christian leader Khokon Ghosh.
Khari Bamuner Chak falls under the Baruipur Catholic Pastoral Area and has a predominantly Christian population. Residents alleged that unidentified individuals damaged the grotto under the cover of darkness and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible.
Church Lodges Complaint With Police
A local resident said community members rushed to the site after learning about the vandalism. The resident expressed concern over what they described as a series of attacks on Christians in different parts of West Bengal and questioned whether authorities were doing enough to protect the community.
The resident also questioned the police response to such incidents, arguing that effective law enforcement could help prevent attacks on religious places.
Church authorities lodged a complaint with Raidighi Police Station. No individual has been named as a suspect, and the motive behind the vandalism remains unclear.
Some members of the Christian community have expressed suspicion about the possible involvement of right-wing groups, although this has not been established.
Priest Calls for Identification of Those Responsible
Father Ujjwal Mondal, priest-in-charge of the pastoral region, visited the site after the incident. A police team also inspected the location and initiated an investigation.
Father Mondal alleged that the vandalism was intended to hurt the religious sentiments of the Christian community.
“The mischief was committed under the cover of darkness with a specific motive to hurt religious sentiments by those who cannot tolerate other communities. We did not catch anyone in the act. We have therefore appealed to the police to identify and apprehend the culprits so that communal harmony is maintained in the area,” he said.
Members of the Christian community have urged the administration to identify those responsible and ensure the protection of places of worship.
