In Bengal, Christians allegedly assaulted by Bajrang Dal mob, forced to perform Hindu rituals

Three Christian families in a village in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur District were harassed over three days, intimidated and forced to perform Hindu rituals by Bajrang Dal members, according to a first information report seen by Scroll.

The underage girls of the families were threatened with rape and abduction, while one woman was nearby disrobed, the family members told Scroll. The mob threatened to burn them alive and made repeated demands that they leave Christianity, they said.

No arrests have been made so far.

On October 18, around 3.30 pm, 40-year-old Laxmi Mondal was doing household chores when a mob of more than 10 people, including at least three women, barged into her home in Patlapur village.

She identified them as people from neighbouring villages associated with the Bajrang Dal, the Hindutva group.

“They dragged me outside,” Mondal told Scroll. “I was slapped and struck on the head and below the ear due to which I lost consciousness.”

When she came to, Mondal said she realised her attackers were trying to disrobe her.

“I became aware that they were using abusive language, shouting that they would strip me,” Mondal told Scroll. “My blouse was torn and my saree had been removed by three men.”

She said they also forced her to bathe as part of “a Hindu purification ritual.”

The mob...

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