On Oct. 18, a Christian woman in Paschim Medinipur’s Patlapur village was attacked by a group linked to Bajrang Dal. She claims they stripped her, forced a public bath and compelled her to perform Hindu rites before a crowd. The assault also targeted her family and two other Christian households, threatening them with death if they sought police help.
Police registered an FIR on the night of Oct. 20 and booked 13 suspects, including Ranjit Dolui and Bapi Mondal, under sections for attempted murder, assault and extortion. The complainant recorded that the accused took Rs 20,000 from a family home and used sexual slurs against a 16‑year‑old daughter. No arrests were made by the end of Oct. 24, and Superintendent Papiya Sultana has yet to respond to media queries.
Opposition leaders have demanded action. Congress MP KC Venugopal wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah to arrest the accused, while TMC MP Sagarika Ghose called for a fact‑finding probe. Both parties accuse the ruling BJP of deliberate inaction amid rising reports of forced conversions during Durga Puja.
The families remain under police protection, but the case is still pending in court. The next hearing is scheduled for Nov. 5, when the accused will face charges in the district court. The incident has ignited a broader debate over religious coercion in West Bengal.