Kottayam: The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has come out strongly against the controversial arrest of two Keralite nuns in Durg, Chhattisgarh, calling it a serious blot on the nation’s commitment to religious freedom. The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Orthodox Church issued a firm statement condemning the incident, asserting that the arrest has caused “deep wounds to India's secular image” and demanded immediate action against the religious extremists who allegedly harassed the nuns.
According to the Church, the detained nuns Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis were subjected to hostile questioning by Bajrang Dal members in the presence of police officials, a scene the Synod described as “deeply humiliating” and “painful to the conscience of any democratic society.”
“These nuns were publicly hurt and insulted by religious fanatics without any evidence of wrongdoing, while the authorities stood by. Such silence by law enforcement, in the face of radicalism, has raised grave concerns,” the Synod's statement read. The Church also urged both the central and state governments to act decisively against those responsible for the intimidation and to restore faith in constitutional protections for minorities.
The incident occurred on July 25, when Sisters Preethi and Vandana, both members of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate congregation, were accompanying three young women from Narayanpur district to Agra for a job opportunity at a hospital run by the nuns. The women, aged between 19 and 22, had parental permission letters and valid identity documents in hand. They also clearly stated that they were Christians and had voluntarily opted for employment.
Despite this, Bajrang Dal activists intercepted the group at Durg railway station and accused the nuns of forced conversion and human trafficking. Instead of defusing the confrontation, the police reportedly detained the group, and later filed charges.
Sister Preethi Mary hails from Elavoor parish under the Angamaly Archdiocese, and Sister Vandana Francis is from Udayagiri parish in Thalassery, Kannur. Both were charged under sections related to human trafficking, with Sister Preethi named as the first accused.
The Orthodox Church expressed deep concern that this incident is part of a growing pattern of weaponizing laws meant to prevent conversion and trafficking, to target Christian missionaries and nuns engaged in social service. “The act of vilifying charitable outreach as criminal conspiracy is a dangerous trend. It erodes the very soul of our democratic framework,” the Synod observed.
Multiple Christian denominations, civil society groups, and human rights advocates have already condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of those detained. The Orthodox Church’s latest intervention adds significant ecclesiastical weight to the protests.
“This is not just an attack on two individuals it is an attack on the right to serve, the right to believe, and the right to move freely in this country,” the Church added.
As public demonstrations grow across states like Kerala, Delhi, and Chhattisgarh, the arrest of the nuns has snowballed into a national debate on religious freedom, the misuse of legal provisions, and the role of state machinery in protecting or enabling targeted harassment.