Kolkata: Christian organisations in West Bengal have reported a series of incidents involving alleged attacks, disruption of prayer meetings and intimidation, raising concerns about the situation of Christians in the eastern Indian state.
The reports have emerged as Christian groups seek greater protection from the state government. However, some wider claims about pressure on Christian educational institutions remain disputed or have not been independently verified.
Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, a Christian organisation in West Bengal, has said that it documented 26 alleged cases involving Christians, churches and prayer gatherings over the previous three months. The organisation said 11 First Information Reports, or FIRs, had been registered in connection with the cases.
India Hate Lab, a research group, said it documented 60 incidents targeting Christians across 13 districts of West Bengal between May 13 and September 20. It classified 52 of the incidents as raids on private prayer meetings, homes, churches or other Christian gatherings, while eight involved physical assault, mob violence or vandalism.
The two figures come from different organisations and are based on different methodologies and periods. They should therefore not be treated as an official government count.
Indian media have also reported several individual incidents in recent weeks. Christian groups have said that prayer meetings were disrupted in parts of the state and that some participants were assaulted or threatened.
In one reported case in Amta in Howrah district, a Christian family alleged that men entered their home during a prayer meeting, demanded that they renounce Christianity and threatened them with eviction. The family said it had filed a police complaint.
Another recent incident was reported in the Bardhaman area, where participants at a Christian prayer meeting alleged that members of the BJP and Bajrang Dal attacked them and accused them of religious conversion. Representatives of the groups denied wrongdoing and said they were concerned about alleged attempts to convert poor people.
The issue of religious conversion has become a major point of dispute in several recent incidents. Christian groups have rejected allegations of forced conversion, while opponents have raised concerns about conversion activities. Such allegations remain claims unless established through investigations or legal proceedings.
A recent report by International Christian Concern also raised concerns about two Christian educational institutions in West Bengal. It said state officials had visited St Xavier's College in Kolkata and Serampore College in Serampore.
The report presented the visits as evidence of growing pressure on Christian institutions. However, the specific visits could not be independently confirmed through major international news organisations or official statements reviewed for this report. They should therefore be treated as reported allegations rather than established facts.
Both institutions continue to publish information about academic and institutional activities. St Xavier's College in Kolkata continues to publish academic and institutional announcements, while Serampore College has current admission and examination information for the 2026 to 2027 academic year.
The Senate of Serampore College says it has more than 70 affiliated colleges and seminaries and plays an important role in theological education.
Christian groups have also raised concerns about India's Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, or FCRA, which governs foreign contributions received by eligible organisations.
FCRA registration can be affected by expiry, cancellation, failure to renew or other regulatory action. Claims that particular Christian institutions have had their foreign funding stopped for a specific period need to be supported by official records before being presented as established facts.
The broader political context is also significant. The Bharatiya Janata Party won 207 of the 294 seats in the West Bengal Assembly in the 2026 state election and formed the state's first BJP government. Suvendu Adhikari was sworn in as chief minister on May 9.
Christian groups have asked the state government to intervene over alleged attacks and provide protection for religious gatherings. At the same time, allegations of forced conversion have featured prominently in disputes involving Christian prayer meetings.
The recent incidents have raised questions about religious freedom, alleged violence, conversion disputes and the regulation of religious organisations.
There is independent reporting of several incidents involving Christian communities in West Bengal. At the same time, claims of a coordinated government campaign against Christian educational institutions remain insufficiently established.
The situation continues to develop, with Christian organisations calling for protection and authorities facing pressure to address allegations of both attacks and unlawful religious conversion.