The appeals follow incidents in South 24 Parganas, Purba Bardhaman and Purba Medinipur, alongside disturbances at house-prayer meetings in Howrah. Church representatives say accusations of forced conversion are being used to intimidate worshippers, while Hindu organisations say they are opposing conversion by inducement and want authorities to investigate complaints.
On August 26, a Christian prayer gathering at a residence in Check Milepost village in Purba Medinipur was disrupted after a group accused participants of carrying out forced conversions. Pastor Joy Sutradhar said he and his wife were assaulted and taken to a police station. He said lawyers contacted intervened and they were released. A complaint was later sent to police by email, according to Herod Mullick, founder of the Bangiya Christiya Pariseba.
Police in Purba Medinipur did not publicly confirm that unlawful conversion had taken place at the gathering. The allegations remain claims rather than established findings.
On August 23, a prayer meeting at a rented house in Uluberia, Howrah, was broken up after a group entered the premises, accused those present of forced conversion and allegedly assaulted worshippers and damaged furniture and equipment. Pastor Mithun Hazra said police rescued members of the congregation and took them for medical treatment. Howrah Rural Superintendent of Police Amit Verma said an FIR had been registered and an investigation was under way.
Christian groups suspended some house-prayer meetings and visits, saying members feared further confrontation. Mullick said his organisation was providing legal assistance to affected families.
A separate dispute arose on August 14 at a burial connected with St Claret Church in Sahanagar, Purba Bardhaman. Parish priest Father Samuel Hembrom said local residents demanded documents for the burial ground and prevented a funeral from proceeding. He alleged that a body already lowered into a grave was removed and later taken to another cemetery in Bardhaman town.
Purba Bardhaman Superintendent of Police Pushpa said the deceased woman was not from the area and local residents objected to the burial. She said residents also claimed the land was private property rather than a cemetery and that police were checking land records. The officer said she was not aware of an assault on mourners but would verify the allegation.
The earliest highlighted incident occurred on July 5 at Buri Bot Tola in Subhasgram, under Sonarpur police station in South 24 Parganas, where an under-construction Presbyterian church was vandalised. Community members said a large group entered the premises, damaged the door, two pillars and three crosses, and accused Christians of conversion activity.
Sonarpur police registered an FIR covering alleged criminal trespass, property damage and intimidation. Police initially detained three youths. Six suspects were later arrested in connection with the case and granted bail.
Local Christian residents said about 50 families, comprising more than 100 church members, had been using rented premises for worship before construction of the small church began. They denied offering money or other inducements to convert people.
Hindu Jagran Manch representatives said local residents had complained about alleged conversions and questioned the legality of the church construction. One local organiser acknowledged that some residents damaged the building during a confrontation. The conversion allegations have not been established by a court.
Debdutta Majhi, president of Singha Bahini, has also alleged that conversions involving monetary inducements are taking place in Uluberia and elsewhere and said his organisation would continue opposing them.
West Bengal Tribal Development and Minority Affairs Minister Kshudiram Tudu said people had the right to practise their faith without interference, while adding that complaints of forced conversion should be dealt with under the law. The state government is led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.