Extremist mobs abducted a pastor and vandalised a house church in separate incidents in West Bengal, eastern India, on Sunday 6 September.
At around 11am, about 25 people invaded a Christian home in Nandapurya village in West Medinipur district, where Pastor Sukhendu Singh was conducting a service for Christians from eight families in nearby villages.
“They threatened Pastor Sukhendu Singh and forcibly took him away,” Purna Hembram, a Christian present at the service said.
Singh was not released until late that evening after his abductors had beaten him and forced him to sign a written statement promising not to visit the villages to lead prayer services.
“They also forced him to say that he would go to every Christian house and tell them that Christianity is a foreign religion,” said Victor Behera, state coordinator of the Bengal Christian Council.
Behera added that a lawyer is assisting the church in filing a complaint to police.
House church vandalised
In a separate incident the same morning, another extremist mob of about 125 people vandalised a house church in Rangilabasan village in East Medinipur district.
The mob entered the house shortly after the morning service had ended, thankfully after most of the worshippers had already left.
Among other acts of vandalism at the property, the assailants broke a cross into four pieces, and attacked the home owner, Tapan Samanta.
The attackers dragged Samanta to a local police station, along with some women from the church who sought to defend him. They were later released.
“Despite continuous assurances from the administration, repeated disruptions and attacks during Sunday prayer services remain deeply alarming,” commented Herod Mullick, founding secretary of the Bengal Christian Council.
West Bengal is not among the thirteen Indian states to have passed anti-conversion laws that prohibit seeking converts through force or coercion.
How you can pray
Pray for Pastor Singh as he recovers from his ordeal. Ask that any undertaking signed under duress will be annulled and worship services will continue without disturbance. Pray also that Tapan and the women who courageously intervened will recover from the trauma endured. Ask that God will work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28) with improved police protection across the state, strengthened faith in believers and increased interest in the Gospel generated by the attention given to churches in West Bengal.
