Venugopal asks Amit Shah and Suvendu Adhikari to act over attack on Christian families in Paschim Medinipur

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, asking them to act over what he describes as a brutal attack on three Christian families in Paschim Medinipur district for refusing to give up their faith.

In the letter, sent on Saturday, Venugopal says the attack took place between 18 and 20 October in Patlapur village, under Chandrakona police station. A group reportedly linked to the Bajrang Dal entered the families’ homes and demanded that they renounce Christianity, the letter says. When they refused, they were beaten.

One woman was struck on the head and lost consciousness, according to the letter. Women were stripped in an attempt to disrobe them, and a 15-year-old girl was strangled and threatened with abduction and rape.

On 19 October, the letter says, the families were taken to a Durga Puja pandal in the neighbouring village of Dingal. In front of onlookers, they were made to offer anjali and go through a “purification” ritual, and were warned they would be burnt alive if they went to the police.

‘A silent bystander’

Venugopal accuses the police of failing the families. A complaint made on the first day led to no effective action, he says, and an FIR naming 13 people was registered only on 20 October, after a lawyer stepped in. The offences listed include attempt to murder, criminal trespass, assault with intent to disrobe, criminal intimidation, outraging the modesty of women, and theft.

He described the police as a “silent bystander” and said attacks by “Sanghi goons” had been given “license”.

Writing on X, he called the treatment of the families “heart-wrenching” and said “those responsible must be given the strictest of punishments.”

‘Shame to both’

The letter places the ritual at a pandal at the centre of the complaint. “Forcing any person, under threat of violence, to perform the rituals of another faith is an assault not only on the victims,” Venugopal wrote, treating the case as a constitutional question and not only a crime. “Those who did this represent neither the Hindu faith nor the culture of Bengal; they bring shame to both.”

He cited civil society records of at least 60 incidents targeting Christians across 13 districts of West Bengal between 13 May and 20 September this year.

What he wants

Venugopal asked for the immediate arrest of all the accused under the strongest provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and firm action against groups and individuals who spread hatred or coerce people in matters of faith. He wants both the Union Home Minister and the Chief Minister to step in.

Neither the state government nor the police had publicly responded to the letter by Saturday afternoon, and there has been no response from the Bajrang Dal.