A group allegedly stormed a church inauguration and attacked priests and devotees. The incident has intensified concerns about intimidation of West Bengal's Christian minority.The attackers allegedly vandalised a cross at the church, assaulted priests and devotees, and smashed the mobile phones of those trying to record the incident,. (Representational image) A group of people allegedly vandalised a church during its inauguration in West Bengal and attacked priests and devotees, leaving several people injured, police told news agency Press Trust of India.The incident took place at Narayantala in South 24 Parganas district on Saturday, when Bishop Subrata Chakraborty, several priests and devotees had gathered for the inauguration ceremony, officials said.“We have received a complaint that 30-35 people entered the church premises and assaulted those present.

Women were also allegedly attacked and asked to remove their traditional ‘shakha’ (white bangles) before being forced out of the premises,” a police officer told PTI on Sunday.The attackers allegedly vandalised a cross at the church, assaulted priests and devotees, and smashed the mobile phones of those trying to record the incident, the officer said. Members of the congregation said the attackers also threatened to prevent religious activities on the premises.

Police have started an investigation.The Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, a Christian organisation, condemned the incident and described it as an attempt to intimidate the minority community. Herod Mullick, the organisation's founder, state secretary and working president, said, “This is an unprecedented incident where miscreants have beaten up multiple priests during an inauguration ceremony with the bishop present.”“Organised groups take the law into their own hands to target peaceful minorities.

Having faced no meaningful deterrence from the administration or the government, these attackers have grown reckless enough to torture priests of an established church without hesitation,” Mullick said.A couple of weeks earlier, three Christian families in Paschim Medinipur district had complained to police that a group of people threatened and assaulted them in an attempt to force them to renounce their faith.The families, who converted to Christianity around 18 months ago, also alleged that they were forced to take part in certain religious rituals against their wishes.- Ends