Report Documents Rise in Anti-Christian Incidents in West Bengal

A new report from the India Hate Lab (IHL) has documented at least 60 incidents targeting Christians in West Bengal, India, between May 13 and September 20. The findings, released through the group's Early Warning, Early Response initiative, indicate that these events occurred across 13 districts following the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rise to power in the state earlier this year.

The documented incidents include 52 raids on churches, private homes, and prayer meetings, alongside eight reports of physical violence, mob attacks, or property damage. According to the IHL, many of these disruptions were linked to Hindu nationalist organizations. Common patterns included activists questioning attendees about their faith, demanding identification, and accusing participants of forced religious conversions. Specific incidents involved the harassment of Christian women and the disruption of gatherings where individuals were challenged for reading the Bible.

The report highlights that the districts of South 24 Parganas and Paschim Medinipur experienced the highest frequency of these raids. These findings emerge during a period of political transition in West Bengal, with the IHL noting that the incidents reflect a broader trend of intimidation against the Christian community in the region.