Kolkata, Oct 24 Congress MP KC Venugopal on Saturday wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah urging him to immediately arrest those accused of assaulting three Christian families and allegedly forcing them to renounce their faith in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district.
Venugopal, who is also the chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PC), described the incident at Patlapur village within Chandrakona police station limits as “deeply disturbing” and called for “stringent action” against the accused.
“Three Christian families were allegedly assaulted, humiliated and coerced to renounce their faith over three consecutive days, from October 18 to 20 during Durga Puja festivities,” the Congress leader wrote.
The families, Venugopal alleged in his letter, were threatened and assaulted after refusing to give up Christianity.
One woman was allegedly hit on the head and lost consciousness, while a 15-year-old girl was allegedly strangled and threatened with abduction and rape, he said.
The families were allegedly taken to a Durga Puja pandal in neighbouring Dingal village on October 19 and forced to offer anjali and undergo a purported “purification” ritual in front of onlookers, the Congress leader alleged in his two-page letter to Shah.
“They were threatened that they would be burnt alive if they approached the police,” he added.
Venugopal also alleged that a complaint lodged on the first day did not lead to effective action from police and that an FIR naming 13 people was registered on October 20, after an advocate intervened on behalf of the three families.
The alleged offences mentioned in his letter include attempt to murder, criminal trespass, assault with intent to disrobe, criminal intimidation, outraging the modesty of women and theft.
“I therefore urge you to direct the immediate arrest of all accused with the strongest applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 invoked,” he wrote to Shah.
Citing civil society documentation, the Congress leader went on to claim that at least 60 incidents targeting Christians had been recorded across 13 districts of West Bengal between May 13 and September 20 this year.
The Congress MP also called for firm action against organisations and individuals allegedly inciting hatred or coercing people in matters of faith.
“The strength of India has always rested on the freedom of every citizen to profess, practise and propagate the faith of their choice, as guaranteed under Article 25 of our Constitution,” he wrote.
Further describing the alleged incident during Durga Puja as particularly distressing, Venugopal said the festival had traditionally welcomed people of all faiths in Bengal.
“Those who did this represent neither the Hindu faith nor the culture of Bengal; they bring shame to both,” he wrote.
Earlier this week, a senior police officer told PTI that nine members of the three families had complained of being threatened and assaulted on October 18 and 19 and forced to participate in religious rituals against their wishes.
Police registered a case based on their complaints and deployed personnel in the area to prevent any untoward incident.
The situation was under control, the officer said, adding that investigators were examining all possible angles, including the possibility of a local dispute or an old family feud.
Police have not disclosed the identities of the accused, citing the ongoing investigation.
(PTI News)
