Sitting near the door of her mud house with her husband, teenage daughter and ailing father-in-law, the 40-year-old shows the spot where she was allegedly forced to undertake a “purification” ritual on October 18, with buckets of water poured over her as she was made to chew bel and tulsi leaves.

In this village of about a hundred families in Paschim Medinipur district, there are four which are Christian. Three of these families, which are related, were attacked that day, in an assault that lasted three days between October 18 and 20.

A picket has come up in the village, with police personnel and civic volunteers patrolling the area. However, with none of those named by the Christian families for the alleged assault arrested, the families — which claim they have been ostracised by the village — fear what will follow once the police leave.

Said the 40-year-old: “…Even now, they make threats. Entire village has turned against us…”

Villagers accuse the families of lying, denying any assault.…