Three Christian families in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district have accused a group of people of assaulting and threatening them to force them to renounce Christianity. Police have registered a case and deployed personnel in the area to prevent further incidents.
The families, who live in Chandrakona, alleged that nine members were assaulted and threatened on October 18 and 19. According to their police complaint, the group warned them of serious consequences if they refused to give up their Christian faith.
A senior police officer told the Press Trust of India (PTI) on Thursday that the families had been living in the area for around 30 years and had converted to Christianity approximately 18 months ago.
Families Allege Assault and Forced Religious Rituals
The complaints also allege that the families were forced to participate in religious rituals against their wishes.
According to the police officer, a woman from one of the families reportedly lost consciousness after being assaulted. A girl from another family was also allegedly assaulted and threatened.
The families further alleged that the accused warned them against approaching the police.
Police escorted all nine complainants to the police station, where they lodged their complaints. A case has been registered against people named in the complaints, the officer said, declining to disclose their identities, citing the ongoing investigation.
Police Deploy Personnel, Probe Possible Motives
The families have since returned home, and police personnel have been deployed in their area to prevent further incidents.
“The situation is totally under control,” the officer told PTI.
Police are investigating whether the incident was linked to a local dispute, an old family feud or another reason. The officer said investigators were examining all possible angles and had not established the accused persons’ political affiliations.
The district administration’s response to the allegations was not immediately available. PTI reported that calls and messages seeking comment from District Magistrate Bijin Krishna had gone unanswered.
