Catholic nuns, Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested on July 25, 2025 at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh, India.
Reason for Arrest
They were arrested based on a complaint filed by a local Bajrang Dal functionary. The complaint accused them of human trafficking and attempting to forcibly convert three girls from Narayanpur to Christianity.
Details Leading to Arrest
The Bajrang Dal member alleged that the nuns and Mandavi were taking the girls to Agra for conversion. This prompted a protest by Bajrang Dal activists at the railway station, followed by the police taking the nuns and Mandavi into custody.
Bail
The nuns and Mandavi were initially denied bail by a local court. However, on August 2, 2025, a special court in Bilaspur granted them conditional bail. The bail conditions included surrendering their passports, furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 each, and providing two sureties.
Controversy and Reactions
The arrest and subsequent legal proceedings sparked political controversy. While the Chhattisgarh government maintained that the investigation was proceeding according to due process, The Hindu reports that various political leaders and organizations in Kerala expressed concerns about the targeting of the Christian community and demanded the nuns’ release. There were also claims that the FIR was based on mere suspicion and that Bajrang Dal members had assaulted the girls and forced false statements against the nuns.
