National outrage grows over Durg nun arrest case; legal and political battles intensify
Raipur. Senior CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat addressed a press conference in Raipur today, condemning the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns—Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis—who were taken into custody at Durg Railway Station on July 25 on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Karat called the arrests “a planned attack on the Christian community” and demanded their immediate release and a fair investigation.
What Brinda Karat said:
Speaking to reporters, Karat said, “These two nuns, who have dedicated their lives to serving the poor, were jailed on false and fabricated charges. An Adivasi youth, who did nothing wrong, was also beaten and imprisoned. How can Bajrang Dal and RSS members beat people in front of the police and still walk free?”
She alleged that the arrests were part of a “narrow Hindutva agenda” led by the BJP and the Chhattisgarh government.
Karat expressed concern about the nuns’ condition in jail, saying one of them has fever and the other is suffering from arthritis, yet both are forced to sleep on the floor. “This is a violation of basic human dignity. The nuns asked us, ‘Are we not citizens of India?’” Karat added.
She also said that the three Adivasi girls caught with the nuns were already Christians, so there is no question of conversion. “Bajrang Dal forced them to change their statements in front of the police,” she alleged. “Every Indian has the right to travel for jobs. These charges are baseless.”
Visit to Durg Jail
Earlier in the day, Karat visited Durg Central Jail along with CPI leader Annie Raja, CPI(M) MPs K. Radhakrishnan and A.A. Rahim, and Kerala Congress (M) MP Jose K. Mani. The delegation met the nuns and assessed their health and jail conditions.
Karat accused the jail authorities of inhumane treatment. She said that on July 29, they were denied permission to meet the nuns—a move she called “BJP’s lawlessness.” CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby condemned the denial, calling it an attempt to suppress the truth.
After public pressure and protest, the jail finally allowed the meeting today and agreed to shift the nuns to the district hospital for medical care.
Nationwide Political Reactions
The incident has sparked political outrage across the country. Both the ruling LDF and the opposition UDF in Kerala held separate protests in cities like Thiruvananthapuram.
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal raised the issue in Parliament, calling it a “violation of the Constitution.” Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene.
Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the arrests, saying it is a case of “human trafficking and conversion.” Surprisingly, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar disagreed with the action and said there was “no strong evidence” against the nuns.
Legal Status
On July 30, the Durg Sessions Court rejected the nuns’ bail plea, citing lack of jurisdiction, as the case now falls under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act. The case has been transferred to the Bilaspur High Court, making immediate release unlikely.
