Mananthavady: The Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) of the Mananthavady Diocese has strongly condemned the arrest of two Keralite nuns in Durg, Chhattisgarh, terming it as an outrageous violation of democratic values and religious freedom. The nuns, Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Assisi congregation, were taken into custody under dubious charges of human trafficking allegations the youth organization firmly asserts are fabricated.
According to reports, the two nuns were accompanying a group of young women to institutions managed by the Church, where they were to be employed with the full consent of their families. Despite the legal and moral legitimacy of their mission, the nuns were intercepted by right-wing extremists at a railway station and falsely accused of attempting religious conversion and trafficking. The police, allegedly under pressure from these groups, proceeded to arrest the nuns without any substantial evidence.
KCYM leaders lashed out at the authorities, stating that the arrests reflect a disturbing pattern of rising religious intolerance and hostility towards Christian communities in India. "This is nothing short of persecution," a KCYM representative said. "Arresting women who have committed their lives to service and accusing them of grave crimes without proof is reminiscent of the dark days of the Emergency. It is a disgrace to a country that claims to be secular and democratic."
The organization also raised grave concerns over the role of law enforcement in the incident, accusing the police of acting in collusion with extremist elements. "It is unacceptable that law-keepers stood by while Bajrang Dal activists threatened and harassed the nuns. The arrest appears more like appeasement of mob pressure than enforcement of justice," said a KCYM statement.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has reportedly taken up the matter at the national level, pushing for the immediate release of the nuns and the dismissal of all fabricated charges. KCYM has echoed this demand and urged both the Chhattisgarh state and central governments to take swift action to rectify the injustice.
Further, KCYM called for stringent measures to prevent similar incidents in the future, warning that the targeting of Christians and their institutions could have far-reaching consequences on the nation’s unity and social fabric.
“The false narrative of forced conversions is being used as a tool to harass Christian missionaries and organizations working for the upliftment of the poor,” KCYM asserted. “Such acts threaten the core values of the Constitution and must be condemned unequivocally.”
The incident has sparked outrage among Christian organizations across the country, with vigils and protests being planned in solidarity with the arrested nuns. As the situation develops, the spotlight remains firmly fixed on whether the Indian justice system will uphold the principles of fairness, religious liberty, and the rule of law in the face of growing majoritarian pressures.