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Hindu Mob Vandalises Under-Construction Church in Bengal's Sonarpur
09/Jul/2026Nearly 100 vandals stormed into an under-construction church in Sonarpur, damaging pillars and three crosses and alleging that the small Christian community was conducting religious conversion.
New Delhi: A mob on Sunday (July 5) vandalised an under-construction church in the Buri Bot Tola in the Subhasgram area of West Bengal’s Sonarpur, where a small community of Christian families reside. As per a report by The Indian Express, the vandals broke down the church’s door, damaged two newly erected pillars and destroyed three crosses installed atop the building after climbing onto its tin roof. The mob allegedly also threatened the congregation.
Nearly 100 people gathered near the church around 3 pm on July 5, alleging that the Christian community there was carrying out religious conversions. Barnali Bhiyan, a community member told The Indian Express that painting work was underway when the crowd stormed in. Another local resident Utpal Ghosh claimed that after breaking the church’s door, the mob used a ladder to climb onto the roof and vandalise the crosses.
According to The Indian Express, community members alleged that the vandals identified themselves as belonging to the Hindu Jagran Manch, who reportedly raised slogans while questioning the people for wearing shakha-pola and sindur, traditional Bengali Hindu symbols, despite being Christian. Resident Champa Bhuiyan said the families, who have been inhabiting the area since 2017, have been wearing shakha-pola and sindur for generations. Champa added, “They alleged that we were converting people by luring them with money. We are poor families; where will we get that kind of money?”
The church belongs to the Presbyterian Church of India and serves around 50 families with 116 members, who previously prayed in a rented room before construction began in March on the land the community had purchased. “We are a small community. Since the nearest church is in Sonarpur town, we wanted to build a small one here. If anyone had a problem, they should have approached the authorities long ago. Why attack the church now?,” Geeta Haldar, a member of the congregation, told The Indian Express.
After the incident, the locals contacted the police who detained three youths in connection with the case. As per the Indian Express report, a first information report was registered following a complaint filed by Swapan Purkait, invoking sections pertaining criminal trespass, mischief causing damage and criminal intimidation. A senior Baruipur police district officer added that an investigation is underway and that the situation is
Christian community leader and founder of Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (Bengal Christian Council) Herod Mullick said a delegation had been sent to the site and a protest rally has been announced on July 14, with a memorandum to be submitted to the governor, reported The Indian Express.
Hindu Mob Vandalises Under-Construction Church in Bengal's Sonarpur
Nearly 100 vandals stormed into an under-construction church in Sonarpur, damaging pillars and three crosses and alleging that the small Christian community was conducting religious conversion.
thewire.in
