A video grab of the fight at the Basanti church
“two Christian groups” were fighting for control of the new church and this led to the violent incident, according to police. Bishop Chakraborty told TOI, “It is an unfortunate incident where, with the support of a few members of nearby Baptist churches, some extremists from the local Hindu Jagran Manch carried out the attack. They entered chanting ‘Jai Shri Ram’ and ordered Hindu women to leave the church. Some Hindu families protected us. The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba (BCP) lodged a complaint with Basanti Police Station, following which a police team reached the spot. BCP founder and state secretary Herod Mullick stated, “This is an unprecedented incident where miscreants have beaten priests conducting an inaugural ceremony. We are deeply concerned that such attacks targeting peaceful religious activities of minorities by a section of extremist groups are increasing. This church and the assaulted clergy are neither helpless nor isolated. We expect the church authorities, particularly the bishop, to take decisive legal and institutional action. ”