Calling the recent arrest of two Kerala-based Christian nuns and a Narayanpur resident in Chhattisgarh’s Durg on charges of trafficking and religious conversion a “manufactured case”, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat has alleged that the action amounted to an infringement of the rights of tribal women.
No bail for jailed nuns as Chhattisgarh court cites jurisdiction issues
On July 25, the Chhattisgarh Government Railway Police arrested nuns Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis, along with Sukhman Mandavi, following a complaint by a Bajrang Dal member. The complaint alleged that the three were trafficking three tribal girls from Narayanpur district from Durg to Agra with the intent of religious conversion to Christianity. The women have denied any coercion, maintaining that they were travelling to Agra to take up employment, and that neither conversion nor the travel itself was forced.
Members of the Kerala Congress (Jacob) took out a protest march in Palakkad on Thursday, July 31, 2025, condemning the recent arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh. | Photo Credit: K K Mustafah
“Are there separate rules for adivasi adult women who want to leave voluntarily to look for employment elsewhere? Do they need a passport from Bajrang Dal to travel?” Ms. Karat, who met the nuns and Mr. Mandavi in Durg jail on Wednesday, said.
