Catholic leaders allege rising anti-Christian hostility in West Bengal after Hindu activists threatened nuns over a chapel and cemetery.
Newsroom (15/07/2026 Gaudium Press ) A prominent Catholic lay organization in India has expressed alarm over what it describes as a growing climate of hostility toward Christians in West Bengal, following an incident in which a group of Hindu activists allegedly threatened Catholic nuns and demanded the demolition of religious structures under construction.
The incident occurred on July 12 at the convent of the Auxilium Salesian Sisters (FMA) in North 24 Parganas district, where approximately 60 Hindu activists reportedly entered the premises and confronted the religious community. According to Catholic leaders, the group threatened the nuns with violence unless a chapel and cemetery nearing completion were demolished.
Elias Vas, president of the All India Catholic Union (AICU), described the confrontation as a serious act of intimidation. Speaking on July 14, he said the activists used abusive language and attempted to instill fear among the sisters.
Vas argued that the incident was not an isolated event but part of a broader pattern of harassment targeting Christians and Christian institutions in several parts of West Bengal following a recent change in the state government.
Witnesses reported that some members of the crowd shouted, “Your government is no more in power; now it is our government.” Local Christians have interpreted the slogan as evidence of growing confidence among Hindu nationalist groups after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won the state election, replacing a secular regional administration.
According to Vas, the demands made by the activists amounted to a direct challenge to the constitutional rights of religious minorities. He said the threats represented an attempt to circumvent the rule of law through intimidation rather than legal processes.
“The threats represent an attempt to bypass the rule of law through intimidation and fear,” Vas said.
The AICU, recognized as India’s oldest Catholic lay organization, has called on the West Bengal government to immediately provide protection for the Salesian Sisters and safeguard the chapel and cemetery. The organization maintains that both structures were being built after obtaining all necessary government approvals.
In addition to demanding enhanced security, the group has urged authorities to initiate legal proceedings against those responsible for the alleged threats and trespassing.
Vas emphasized that the protection of places of worship is guaranteed under India’s constitutional framework and warned that any reluctance by authorities to act could encourage further attacks against religious minorities.
“The right to worship and the right to maintain places of worship are fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution,” he said.
He added that the Catholic organization would continue monitoring developments and was prepared to seek intervention from higher authorities or pursue legal remedies through the courts if adequate protection was not provided.
Concerns about the broader security of Christian communities were echoed by a senior Church leader in West Bengal, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The Church official said Christians throughout the state were increasingly worried about what he described as a recent increase in attacks and intimidation.
“We are very worried that our people have been repeatedly subjected to attacks over the past two to three weeks,” the Church leader said.
Calling the situation “extremely disturbing,” the official noted growing anxiety within Christian communities as reports of harassment continue to emerge.
The incident has intensified debate over religious freedom and minority rights in the eastern Indian state. Catholic leaders argue that the confrontation at the Salesian convent reflects a wider challenge facing Christian institutions, while urging authorities to uphold constitutional protections and ensure that disputes involving religious properties are addressed through lawful procedures rather than intimidation.
As concerns mount, Church representatives and Catholic organizations say they will closely watch the government’s response, viewing it as a critical test of the state’s commitment to protecting the rights and security of minority communities.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from UCA News
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