Durg: The Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission has called on the state police to file an FIR against right-wing activists accused of threatening, sexually harassing, and abusing three women from Narayanpur district and two nuns at the Government Railway Police (GRP) station in Durg on July 25. The Commission’s intervention comes after repeated complaints and a lack of adequate action from authorities.
The controversy erupted when Bajrang Dal activists accused the nuns of human trafficking and forcibly converting the three women. The women, however, maintained that the nuns were assisting them in securing employment. Following the allegations, police filed an FIR and arrested the nuns, who were later released on bail on August 2 after several days in custody. The arrests sparked nationwide outrage, especially in Kerala, where the nuns hail from, with Christian organizations, the Congress party, and the ruling Left alliance in Kerala sharply condemning the move. Multiple videos from inside the GRP station circulated widely on social media, intensifying public scrutiny.
Kiranmayee Nayak, Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission, told The Indian Express that the Commission held three hearings into the incident but received insufficient responses from government officials. She highlighted the importance of CCTV footage from the Durg Railway Police station, which reportedly shows Bajrang Dal activists harassing the women inside the station. On Thursday, the Commission sent a formal letter to the Director General of Police (DGP), demanding that an FIR be registered against the right-wing workers identified by the three women in their individual complaints.
Nayak warned that if the police fail to act within 15 days, she intends to escalate the matter to the National Human Rights Commission and seek compensation for the women due to the authorities’ inaction.
The three women expressed relief at the Commission’s intervention, noting that the incident had caused them to lose the employment opportunities that the nuns were facilitating, resulting in financial hardships. Initially placed in a shelter for safety, the women were later allowed to return home to Narayanpur. They first filed complaints with local police in Narayanpur, who directed them to Durg authorities as the alleged harassment took place there. In August, the women approached the State Women’s Commission to ensure justice.
The case has reignited debates over the protection of minority communities, women’s rights, and the accountability of vigilante groups in India. The Commission’s call for action underscores the need for swift legal measures to ensure the safety and dignity of women and religious workers in the state.