Shillong, Aug 1: Chief minister Conrad K Sangma has urged his Chhattisgarh counterpart to intervene to secure release of the two Christian nuns arrested on charges of alleged attempt to forcibly convert two tribal girls.
The two nuns from Kerala – Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethy Mary – who work at Fatima Hospital in Agra were detained by Chhattisgarh police at Durg Railway Station on July 26.
In his letter undersigned as national president of National People’s Party (NPP), Sangma said the nuns were arrested under “allegedly false charges and pressure from right-wing groups”.
Narrating the incident, he said, “The situation arose when the nuns were accompanying three girls from Chhattisgarh to Agra. A Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE) questioned the girls, who stated they didn’t have tickets and were traveling at the nuns’ request.”
However, the NPP chief said, the TTE alerted local activists, who then alleged the nuns were attempting to take the girls for forced religious conversion. This claim sparked a protest, and the police detained the nuns and girls based on the activists’ complaint.
Expressing concern that serious sections have been imposed on the nuns, he said, “We believe that this is a case of harassment and false allegations. Hence, we urge you to intervene and ensure justice.”
He mentioned that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) has also requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to intervene in this matter.
Catholic Christians in Meghalaya have also submitted petitions to the Chhattisgarh CM demanding justice for the detained nuns.
Sangma said he hoped the issue would be resolved in a manner that respects constitutional values and religious freedom.
