Hundreds Attend Kolkata Prayer Rally Over Alleged Attacks on Churches

Agnihotri Gupta, MP, Nov 5, 2026, Kolkata : Hundreds of Christians from West Bengal and neighbouring states gathered at Rani Rashmoni Avenue in Esplanade on Thursday for a prayer rally organised by Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP), protesting against alleged attacks, vandalism and harassment targeting churches and Christian prayer gatherings over the past five months.

Religious leaders, clergy and representatives of various denominations from Odisha, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland attended the rally. Similar demonstrations were held in three districts, while Christians in Basanti staged a protest at the collectorate and submitted a deputation at the police station.

Archbishop Joseph D’Souza called for unity against alleged religious oppression, saying attacks on Christians were not new and that the community’s fight would continue.

BCP founding state secretary Herod Mullick said the organisation had documented 48 incidents of violence and harassment over five months, many of which remained unregistered. He alleged that victims were prevented from lodging FIRs in 32 cases, while complaints were registered in only 16.

Rejecting allegations of forced religious conversions, Mullick claimed that peaceful prayer gatherings were being portrayed as illegal conversion events. He also voiced concern over the community’s growing insecurity ahead of Christmas.

Mullick said a five-member BCP delegation had met RSS state head Jishnu Basu on Wednesday. Basu had assured them that he would raise the concerns with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari.

A follow-up meeting involving church leaders and BCP representatives is expected by the end of November to address misconceptions surrounding Christian organisations.