A special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Bilaspur has granted bail to two Catholic nuns from Kerala, Sr. Vandana Francis and Sr. Preethi Mary, both members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), along with Sukhman Mandavi, a tribal youth from Narayanpur who was arrested with them.
The Archdiocese of Bangalore, South India, has issued a strong condemnation following the wrongful arrest and alleged assault of two Catholic religious sisters on July 25, 2025, at Durg Railway Station, Chhattisgarh.
Two Catholic nuns were detained by authorities in central India over allegations of human trafficking, prompting strong reactions from Church leaders who decried the incident as part of a growing trend of hostility toward religious minorities.
The chief minister of the state, Bhupesh Baghel, said, “Missionaries in the state are known for their services, especially in the field of education and health care and he appreciated the special services during the Covid-19 time.”
Eight families, consisting of around fifteen men, women and children, got attracted to Christian prayer and began practicing Christian way of life. The fellow villagers want then to return to their original tribal faith.
