Armed Mob Attacks Santhali Christian Convention in West Bengal

On October 9, an armed group of approximately 200 individuals disrupted the Annual Santhali Mega Bible Convention at the Divine Love Retreat Centre in the Nadia district of West Bengal, India. Participants, who gathered for the four-day event, reported that the attackers arrived in vehicles armed with bamboo sticks and bricks. The mob reportedly shouted anti-Christian slogans and vandalized church property, resulting in injuries to several attendees and the premature conclusion of the gathering.

The Santhali people are an indigenous group residing across several eastern Indian states. Following the incident, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) condemned the violence as a violation of religious freedom and requested federal and state intervention. Additionally, the Bengal Christian Council (BCP) has begun providing legal assistance to the affected community, citing concerns over a perceived lack of police response to rising hostilities in the region. Observers have noted an increase in anti-Christian incidents in West Bengal since the state assembly elections held in May 2026.