Christian hall ransacked, 3 linked to BJP arrested

The alleged leader of the attack, Kanai Lal Das, is the husband of a BJP functionary of the local gram panchayat

Three persons were arrested on Sunday night for an alleged attack on a community hall dedicated to Jesus Christ in an East Midnapore village on Saturday afternoon when around 800 people from 28 villages gathered for the inauguration of the building.

Police have said the three arrested men are BJP activists. An FIR was filed by pastor Anup Kumar Ghosh, the organiser of the event at Uttar Shibrampur village near Bhagabanpur.

The alleged leader of the attack, Kanai Lal Das, is the husband of a BJP functionary of the local gram panchayat.

East Midnapore police chief V. Solomon Nesakumar said the preliminary probe revealed that “people affiliated to the BJP and the RSS” had carried out the attack.

The complainant said throughout the attack — allegedly with bombs and sticks — the mob of 20 men raised Jai Shri Ram slogans. They allegedly planted triangular saffron flags with “Om” written on them at the 1,200sqft single-storey community hall, called Jishu’r Aradhona Griho (Jesus’s Prayer Home).

“Four people, including two children, suffered injuries,” said Ghosh, a resident of Jadavpur in Calcutta. “Of the 800 people who had gathered for the inauguration, hardly 10 were Christians,” he added..

Sources in the area said there were rumours that the hall was being built for alleged conversion of Hindus to Christianity. Ghosh, however, said there was no conversion plan.

He said chief minister

Mamata Banerjee had called him up and promised administrative support.

BJP leader Swapan Ray said Das and the three arrested men were framed.