On July 5, at least four incidents of anti-Christian violence took place in the Indian state of West Bengal (map).
Matters India, based in Delhi, reported that
- a mob attacked the home of a Christian widow in Murshidabad, “demanding she abandon her faith and donate her property for conversion into a [Hindu] temple”
- activists “seized Bibles and briefly detained worshippers” at a Protestant prayer meeting in Bankura
- attackers “broke windows, desecrated the altar, and damaged musical instruments” at a Mizo Synod [Presbyterian] church in Suvas Gram
- a mob attacked Grace Church at Faridpur during a Sunday service, assaulting the pastor and members of the congregation
Matters India linked the attacks against Christians—as well as recent intimidation of Muslims—to a new Bharatiya Janata Party government in West Bengal. The state is 71% Hindu, 27% Muslim, and 0.7% Christian.