Shillong: The National People's Party (NPP) in Meghalaya has strongly condemned the alleged detention and harassment of a Catholic nun, two staff members from Catholic Charities Jamshedpur, and 19 minors at Tatanagar railway station in Jharkhand. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday, has raised serious concerns over the treatment of religious minorities and the protection of constitutional rights.
According to the NPP, the group was briefly held by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Government Railway Police (GRP) following allegations of trafficking and forced religious conversion. These claims were later found to be unsubstantiated, underscoring the arbitrary nature of the detention. Father Birendra Tete, Director of Catholic Charities Jamshedpur, clarified that the minors were attending a two-day training programme on adolescent health and skill development, completely unrelated to any illegal activity.
“The prolonged detention until 3 am, despite no evidence of wrongdoing, reflects intimidation against religious minorities,” the NPP stated in a strong press release. The party emphasized that such actions, even if brief, are deeply troubling in a country that prides itself on secularism and religious freedom.
The party called upon authorities to strictly uphold constitutional guarantees, ensure the safety and dignity of all religious communities, and prevent any harassment of individuals engaged in lawful charitable and educational work. Highlighting the broader implications, the NPP warned that such acts are not only unconstitutional but also threaten the social cohesion and secular fabric of India.
Reiterating its solidarity with religious minorities, the NPP urged the Jharkhand administration to conduct a thorough review of the incident and hold accountable those responsible for the unnecessary detention. “India’s pluralistic society depends on respect for lawful service and faith-based initiatives; any intimidation is unacceptable,” the party concluded.