🕊 Two Kerala Nuns Arrested in Chhattisgarh: A Deep Dive into the Controversy

📅 Incident Overview

• Date & Place: July 25, 2025 at Durg Railway Station, Chhattisgarh

• People Arrested:
  • Sister Preethi Mary (45)
  • Sister Vandana Francis (50)—both from Kerala’s Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI)
  • Sukhman Mandavi (19), a youth from Narayanpur

• Accuser: A local Bajrang Dal activist, named Jyoti Sharma, filed the complaint that led to the arrests.

⚖️ Charges Filed

The FIR alleges that the trio committed:

• Human Trafficking under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)
• Forced Religious Conversion under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act, 1968 

Authorities claim the three women—aged under 23—were en route to Agra for nursing jobs, supposedly under misguided intent and without parental consent or village notification.

👥 Who Are the Accused?

Name	Role	Background
Sister Preethi Mary	Kerala-based nun	45, from Angamaly
Sister Vandana Francis	Kerala-based nun	50, from Thalassery
Sukhman Mandavi	Youth anf acquaintance	19, from Narayanpur, tribal Christian

They were reportedly accompanying three women from Narayanpur to Agra’s Fatima Hospital as part of a nursing support program.

😡 Victim’s Statement & Coercion Allegations

A key woman, identified as Kamaleshwari Pradhan (21), claimed she was coerced by Jyoti Sharma and pressured by Bajrang Dal activists to offer a false statement against the nuns. She alleged:
She was slapped, threatened, and told to falsely say she was forcibly taken.
Her actual consent, supported by her parents, was ignored.
She traveled voluntarily with hopes of a ₹10,000/month job.
Kamaleshwari emphasized that her family has followed Christianity for five years and affirmed that the nuns offered documented consent forms before leaving.

⛪ Church & Public Reaction

• Church Leadership: CBCI President Archbishop Andrews Thazhath described the charges as “baseless,” stressing that the nuns had valid consent documents. Christian leaders across denominations criticized the arrests as religious targeting.
• Kerala Protests: Massive protests erupted citywide—Kochi, Angamaly, Thrissur—demanding immediate release and justice.
• Kerala CM Statement: CM Pinarayi Vijayan accused Bajrang Dal of filing a false complaint and urged central intervention.

🏛️ Political & Legal Fallout

• Parliamentary Response: Congress MPs raised the issue in Lok Sabha, denouncing the BJP-ruled state for minority targeting.
• Bail & NIA Referral: Their bail pleas were rejected. The case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), raising the severity of investigations and possible anti-national allegations.
• Meghalaya CM Appeal: Conrad Sangma wrote to Chhattisgarh CM demanding justice and due process.

Opposition within BJP emerged: Kerala BJP arranged a delegation to support the nuns, while Durg Bajrang Dal denied coercion claims and insisted on CCTV evidence.

🧾 Key Points at a Glance

Key Detail	Summary
Complaint Filed By	Jyoti Sharma (Bajrang Dal activist)
Victim Name	Kamaleshwari Pradhan (21)
Charges	Human trafficking & forced conversion under BNS & State Law
Church Position	Argued nuns had valid documentation and parental consent
Legal Status	Bail denied; case under NIA jurisdiction
Political Reactions	Nationwide protests, Parliament questions, Kerala government protests
Important Allegation	Coerced testimony by Bajrang Dal members

🗣️ Author’s Note & Reflection

This case raises critical issues:

• The fragile state of minority rights in India
• Potential misuse of anti-conversion laws
  
• Religious profiling and mob justice without adequate legal checks

Even if allegations seem plausible—consent documentation, voluntary travel, workplace intent—were overlooked. Constitutional values demand impartial investigations untainted by community prejudice.

What do you think—is India witnessing prejudice under the guise of law enforcement? Can the legal system ensure justice, or are laws misused against minority workers and social service providers? Share your thoughts below.