Framed by Fear: The Ordeal of Two Catholic Nuns in Chhattisgarh

A Journey That Turned Into a Nightmare

On the morning of July 25, 2025, two nuns belonging to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate—Sr. Preeti Mary and Sr. Vandana Francis, both from Kerala—were traveling with a tribal man named Sukaman Mandavi and three young women. The young women, all adults, were headed from Chhattisgarh to Agra, where they hoped to begin new lives working as domestic aides and potentially train in nursing.

But their journey came to a chilling halt at Durg Railway Station, when police—prompted by a complaint lodged by a Bajrang Dal activist—detained and arrested the group.

The claim? That these women were being trafficked for forced religious conversion.

This accusation would lead to a deeply troubling chain of events. Arrests. Jail time. Threats. And nationwide outrage.

A Legal Storm Fueled by Prejudice

Later that same day, the two nuns were presented before a local court and remanded to four days of judicial custody. Their bail plea was denied by both the lower and sessions courts, which held that the charges—relating to human trafficking and conversion under duress—fell under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act.

The case was swiftly moved to the NIA court in Bilaspur. And thus, the nuns, whose only alleged crime was accompanying three women on a journey with full parental consent, were locked away in Durg Jail, awaiting formal hearings from the NIA court.

The Families Respond: “Our Daughters Were Not Trafficked”

From the moment news of the arrests broke, the families of the three young women reacted with shock and outrage.

Each family came forward with written declarations, confirming that the daughters had voluntarily chosen to accompany the nuns for work opportunities. These young women were not abducted, deceived, or coerced, as the complaint claimed—they were fully informed, supported by family, and optimistic about their future.

Yet their statements were brushed aside.

Even worse, disturbing video evidence emerged, indicating that members of Bajrang Dal physically and verbally threatened the women and the nuns inside the police station, without any intervention by law enforcement.

Let us not miss the gravity of this: vigilante activists intimidating citizens in custody, in the presence of the very police who are tasked to protect.

“She Was Forced to Lie” — Claims of Coerced Testimonies

Later, one of the young women told reporters that she was pressured to make a false statement—that she had been taken against her will. Her exact words were: “They told me what to say, I was scared… I was threatened.”

This isn’t just misconduct. It is a miscarriage of justice. It raises terrifying questions: If vulnerable witnesses can be manipulated this easily, what hope is there for truth?

History Repeating Itself: A Pattern of Persecution

This case is not unique, unfortunately. Many of us in the Christian community remember the chilling 1995 murder of Sr. Rani Maria, stabbed to death in broad daylight for her social activism among the poor. We remember Fr. Stan Swamy, who died in custody in 2021 after months of ill health, chained to a hospital bed, accused without trial.

What ties these tragedies together?

Christian missionaries—especially in northern and central India—have long championed the liberation and education of Dalits and Adivasis. And this empowerment has provoked backlash from those who prefer the marginalized to stay voiceless and invisible.

Some people twist this work of service into an agenda of “conversion.” But nearly always, the reality is simple: when people are offered dignity, education, and hope, they may choose new paths. That is not coercion—it’s freedom.

Not a Battle of Religions

Let it be said clearly: this is not a conflict between Christianity and Hinduism.

I say this not from theory, but experience. As a priest working for decades in India, I have met countless Hindu brothers and sisters who are kind, compassionate, and committed to pluralism. They too are hurt by these incidents. They too believe in justice.

The issue lies not in Hinduism, but in how it is being weaponized by certain political forces—forces that manufacture fear and fuel division to gain votes, consolidate power, and silence minorities.

Will Truth Survive?

As of July 31, 2025, Sr. Preeti Mary and Sr. Vandana Francis remain in jail, awaiting the next court hearing. Legal uncertainties loom large. The police continue their investigation, but the climate is clearly poisoned.

Now, whispers grow louder: that the girls might cave under pressure. That they or their families could reverse their testimonies due to threats or social extortion. And we ask ourselves in grief and prayer:

Will they be strong enough to stand by the truth?
Will justice prevail, or will fear win again?

A Call to Action — And to Conscience

My dear friends, this is not just about two nuns in prison. It’s about the kind of nation we want India to be.

A nation where helping the poor is a crime?
Where empowering women is “conversion”?
Where silence can be bought, and falsehood rewarded?

Let us, as people of faith and conscience—Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and beyond—stand together. Let us raise our voices for Sr. Preeti and Sr. Vandana. Let us stand with the young women whose freedom is being trampled.

Let us proclaim to the world: India belongs to all. And justice will not be held hostage by fear.