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Religion
Attacks on Christian Fellowships Surge in West Bengal After BJP Wins
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 06:40 AM
👁 11
Since the BJP formed the state government in summer 2026, West Bengal has seen a sharp rise in attacks on Christian home fellowships and churches, unsettling a community that makes up less than 1% of the state's population.
West Bengal has experienced a sudden and rapid increase in incidents targeting Christian home fellowships and church properties since the BJP assumed power in the state during the summer of 2026. The pattern of attacks, reported by local observers, marks a stark shift in the security environment for the minority Christian community.
Christians constitute less than one percent of West Bengal’s population, yet the recent spate of violence has generated widespread fear among believers. Congregations that once met in private homes or modest chapels now report heightened security concerns and a reluctance to hold public gatherings.
The Hindu’s correspondents Senjuti Sengupta and Shiv Sahay Singh have chronicled the community’s anxiety, noting that the surge in attacks coincides with the BJP’s electoral victory in the state. Their reporting highlights the growing sense of vulnerability without attributing the incidents to any specific group.
Authorities have not released comprehensive statistics on the incidents, and local leaders are calling for stronger protection measures to safeguard religious freedom and prevent further escalation.
Christians constitute less than one percent of West Bengal’s population, yet the recent spate of violence has generated widespread fear among believers. Congregations that once met in private homes or modest chapels now report heightened security concerns and a reluctance to hold public gatherings.
The Hindu’s correspondents Senjuti Sengupta and Shiv Sahay Singh have chronicled the community’s anxiety, noting that the surge in attacks coincides with the BJP’s electoral victory in the state. Their reporting highlights the growing sense of vulnerability without attributing the incidents to any specific group.
Authorities have not released comprehensive statistics on the incidents, and local leaders are calling for stronger protection measures to safeguard religious freedom and prevent further escalation.