A severe political controversy has erupted following allegations of assault and forced religious conversion targeting three Christian families in the West Medinipur district of West Bengal. Senior Congress MP and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, KC Venugopal, has written a detailed letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention. Venugopal demanded the immediate arrest of all perpetrators, strong legal action under relevant laws, and protection for the affected families living in the Chandrakona region.
The Sequence of Events in Patlapur Village
The reported incident took place in Patlapur village, located under the jurisdiction of the Chandrakona police station in West Medinipur. According to the complainants, three Christian families comprising nine members were repeatedly targeted between October 18 and October 20, coinciding with the festivities of Durga Puja. Local perpetrators allegedly ambushed the families, subjecting them to verbal abuse, physical violence, and intense intimidation aimed at compelling them to renounce Christianity.
Forced Rituals, Threats, and Physical Violence
In his two-page representation submitted to the Home Minister, Venugopal highlighted the extreme nature of the violence inflicted on the victims. When the families resisted demands to give up their faith, they were physically assaulted. During the scuffle, a woman sustained severe head injuries and fell unconscious. Furthermore, a 15-year-old girl was allegedly choked, physically assaulted, and threatened with abduction and sexual violence.
The ordeal escalated on October 19, when the three families were forcibly escorted to a Durga Puja pandal in the neighboring village of Dingal. In full view of the public, they were coerced into taking part in ritualistic worship, including offering Anjali and undergoing a forced purification process. The attackers explicitly warned the victims that if they approached law enforcement authorities, they would be burned alive.
Police Action and Legal Charges Under BNS
The Congress lawmaker criticized the initial response of law enforcement, claiming that despite a complaint being submitted on the very first day of the assault, effective police action was delayed. It was only after a lawyer stepped in on behalf of the victims that a formal First Information Report was lodged on October 20 against 13 identified individuals.
The FIR invokes stringent provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, covering charges such as attempted murder, criminal trespass, assault intended to outrage the modesty of women, criminal intimidation, and theft. Venugopal urged the Home Ministry to ensure that the police act swiftly to apprehend every individual named in the case. Meanwhile, senior police officials confirmed that a case has been registered based on the statement of the nine family members, and police personnel have been deployed in the locality to maintain order while investigations continue.
Constitutional Guarantees and Cultural Values
Citing Article 25 of the Constitution of India, Venugopal emphasized that every citizen possesses the fundamental right to freely profess, practice, and propagate their religion of choice. He pointed out that Durga Puja in Bengal has historically been a celebration of social unity and communal harmony, welcoming people across all religious beliefs. He asserted that acts of religious coercion and violence run contrary to the tenets of Hinduism and distort the cultural heritage of Bengal, urging strict action against any organization or individual attempting to fuel religious divide.
