Shillong: The Catholic Association of Shillong has written to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, expressing concern over the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns and a woman in Durg, Chhattisgarh.
The association has urged the Chief Minister to intervene, claiming the arrests were based on “baseless” allegations and driven by communal motives.
Nuns Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with Sukaman Mandavi, were taken into custody by the Government Railway Police (GRP) at Durg railway station on July 25, following a complaint filed by a Bajrang Dal functionary.
The complaint alleged that the trio was involved in forcibly converting three tribal women from Narayanpur district and trafficking them.
However, the Catholic Association of Shillong (CAS), led by former Lok Sabha MP Vincent H Pala, refuted the charges.
In its letter, CAS stated that the three women, all adults, were traveling with the nuns voluntarily and with the consent of their families in search of employment opportunities.
“Their work is rooted in service to humanity, beyond caste, creed, or religion. Such actions contribute to national development,” the association said, terming the arrests an abuse of power and “a violation of constitutional rights.”
CAS alleged that the arrests were the result of communal bias and the influence of right-wing groups rather than any credible evidence.
It condemned the incident as an act of harassment and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the three arrested women.
The association also appealed for greater protection of minority rights and warned against the misuse of anti-conversion laws, calling the incident an infringement on the constitutional right to practise one’s faith and carry out social work without fear of persecution.
Both nuns belong to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, a congregation known for its humanitarian outreach.
