Dantan house church disrupted; women held then freed, as FIR accounts conflict

On Sunday, September 13, 2026, a house-church service in Sinni village, Dantan 2 block, Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, was allegedly disrupted, Matters India (September 14) and The Times of India (updated September 15) reported. Matters India, citing eyewitnesses, said a group entered during Sunday worship, abused those present, and that women who confronted the intruders were beaten and several were held for about 90 minutes before Dantan police secured their release. The Times of India placed the service at Ram Nayak’s house, said Ashalata Murmu was leading it, and described a mob of about 40–45 people chanting “Jai Shri Ram.” TOI quoted Murmu saying the group claimed the government had ordered churches and mosques closed — that is the alleged statement of people at the scene, not a cited government order. TOI said Chumki Singh was dragged by her hair and held for at least two hours until Dantan police rescued her. News Karnataka’s September 15 piece restated Matters India’s account and said the allegations had not been independently verified. This brief records those attributed claims. It is distinct from the September 6 Medinipur incidents covered in an earlier Faith & World Brief.

The outlets disagree on whether a First Information Report has been filed. Matters India said Bangiya Khristiya Parisheba (Bengal Christian Council) district secretary Jissai Singh and other leaders went to the village, that victims and BCP later went to Dantan police station, and that advocate Aditya Tewari of the BCP legal cell helped draft an FIR that “has now been officially registered.” A Dantan police official told The Times of India that no formal complaint had been registered yet. This brief records that gap. It does not treat an FIR as confirmed. Herod Mullick, BCP founding secretary, called for stronger state action, both outlets reported — his comment, not a finding. BCP’s Dantan committee announced a peace-and-prayer rally for September 21, TOI said.