Congress MP KC Venugopal on Saturday urged Union home minister Amit Shah to order the immediate arrest of those accused of assaulting three Christian families and allegedly forcing them to renounce their faith in West Bengal’s Paschim Medinipur district.
In a letter to Shah, Venugopal described the alleged incident in Patlapur village, under Chandrakona police station, as “deeply disturbing” and called for stringent action against the accused.
The Congress general secretary alleged that the three families were assaulted, humiliated and coerced to renounce Christianity over three days, from 18 to 20 October, during Durga Puja festivities.
According to Venugopal, the families were threatened and assaulted after refusing to give up their faith. He alleged that one woman was struck on the head and lost consciousness, while a 15-year-old girl was allegedly strangled and threatened with abduction and rape.
The families were also allegedly taken to a Durga Puja pandal in neighbouring Dingal village on 19 October and forced to offer anjali and undergo a purported “purification” ritual in front of onlookers, he said.
“They were threatened that they would be burnt alive if they approached the police,” Venugopal wrote.
He alleged that a complaint lodged on the first day did not prompt effective police action and that an FIR naming 13 people was registered on 20 October after an advocate intervened on behalf of the families.
Venugopal urged Shah to ensure the immediate arrest of all those accused and invoke the strongest applicable provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The alleged offences listed in his letter include attempt to murder, criminal trespass, assault with intent to disrobe, criminal intimidation, outraging the modesty of women and theft.
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