Crack down on vigilante groups behind mob trials and violence, asks CBCI president Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath

The Hindu

a day ago

President of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) and Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath has called for strict action against extremist groups engaging in mob trials and violence, citing the recent arrest of two Catholic nuns in Chhattisgarh as a disturbing example of growing religious intolerance.
In a statement to the media in Thrissur on Saturday (August 2, 2025) following the release of the nuns on bail, the Archbishop urged authorities to quash the fabricated case under which the nuns were arrested and ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.
'These were innocent sisters arrested on false allegations of human trafficking and religious conversion even though they were only accompanying three adult Christian women to their workplace in Agra with parental consent. This is not only unlawful but a blatant violation of religious freedom,' the Archbishop said.
He further demanded swift and strong action against extremist outfits that operate outside the law, conducting mob interrogations and attacks in the name of moral or religious policing. 'What we saw in Chhattisgarh was not an isolated incident. For the past several years, attacks against Christians and minorities have been steadily rising in different parts of the country,' he said.
Emphasising the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and minority rights, Archbishop Mar Thazhath called for systemic reforms to safeguard these protections. 'There must be clear mechanisms to prevent discriminatory practices against Christians and other minorities, particularly in States where such acts have become disturbingly frequent.'
He also thanked all individuals and groups across political and social spectrums who helped secure the release of the nuns, extending special gratitude to both the central and state governments for their support.