Muslim outrage against Christian proselytisation in rural Bengal?

Krishanu Mitra

After tasting success in converting poor Hindus by inducements the Christian proselytising brigade is now spreading its tentacles towards other poor sections of our society. After Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala it has now reached rural Bengal. Some 35 kms from the district town of Beharampur, there lies a small village called Belsanda under Bakraanchal and Sagardighi PS. Both Hindus and Muslims coexists peacefully in this village of some 4,500 people. On April 2, a Christian priest named Yaku from the near by Monigram Church visited the house of 12 years old Jalil Shekh, son of one Lohari Shekh in the village. The priest befriended the little boy by offering him few chocolates and a packet biscuit. Then he silently took the boy and left with him on his motorcycle without informing his parents. This was noticed by few bystanders who followed the vehicle and raised an alarm. Once the news spread the Muslims gathered in large number, rescued the boy and confined the Father. Meanwhile a complain was lodged with the local police over the phone from Palsanda Catholic Church under which the Monigram Church operates, regarding the confinement of Father Yaku in Belsanda. In a  short while a police team arrived at the spot and rescued the priest. But instead of booking Father Yaku on charges of kidnapping, the police released him once they left the village boundary. This was observed by few villagers and the whole village got agitated and a few among them attacked the police. This unanticipated attack rendered the police totally hapless.

Many got injured including the officer-in-charge. Then a large contingent of police force including EFR reached the spot and lathi charged the agitated villagers and rescued the policemen. As per the reports some 19 youth were taken into custody. All the men folks of the village have left their respective home fearing arrest. As a precautionary measure the administration has imposed curfew and prohibitory orders in the entire area. The villagers have complained that proselytisation is rampant in these areas. The poor villagers are lured with food, money and sometimes odd jobs and eventually converted to Christianity.            

(VSK Kolkata)?