Nuns Walk Free as Tribal Girls Prepare Legal Action Against Bajrang Dal Activists

Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, August 2, 2025: Sr. Preethi Mary and Sr. Vandana Francis, the two Catholic nuns at the centre of a controversial arrest in Chhattisgarh, have finally walked out of jail, bringing a wave of relief to Christian communities and rights groups across the country. Their release comes after weeks of incarceration on charges of alleged forced conversion and trafficking—allegations that are now being strongly challenged by the very women the nuns were accused of victimising.

The tribal girls involved in the case have indicated they are preparing to file a case against Bajrang Dal activists and Jyoti Sharma, accusing them of harassment, threats, and wrongful accusations.

The sisters belong to the Franciscan congregation ASMI, founded in Kerala in 1949, renowned for its dedicated service in health, education, and social outreach, particularly among the poor and marginalised.

Their arrest followed accusations by Bajrang Dal members, who alleged the nuns were forcibly converting three tribal women from Narayanpur and trafficking them. The case, initially handled by the Durg sessions court, was transferred to the NIA special court in Bilaspur after the State argued it should fall under special jurisdiction.

In their legal defence, the sisters asserted that the women had willingly accompanied them to take up employment in a missionary hospital. Statements from the parents of the girls backed this claim, affirming that their daughters had left with full consent for work-related purposes.

Following their release, the young women—who were also taken into custody—spoke out in defence of the nuns. They have now signalled plans to pursue legal action against those who, they say, attempted to coerce them into giving false testimonies and wrongly implicated the sisters.

The case has sparked outrage among Christian groups and opposition parties, who held protests across several states, calling the arrests unjust and politically motivated. While the release of the nuns has brought some closure, the legal and social battle appears far from over, as attention now turns to the conduct of those who triggered the arrest.

By Catholic Connect Reporter

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