Kerala nuns arrested on human trafficking, conversion charges granted bail
Following the court order granting bail to the nuns, Communist Party of India (Marxist) workers led by Parliamentarian John Brittas erupted in celebrations outside the prison where the accused nuns are lodged.On Friday, the court had reserved its order after hearing both parties despite the prosecution opposing the bail plea, submitting that the case was in its initial stage of investigation.The two Catholic nuns were taken into custody at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh last week. The duo, who had reportedly arrived to pick up women coming to work at a local convent, were arrested along with a third person based on a complaint by a Bajrang Dal functionary. The complaint alleged they were forcibly converting and trafficking three girls from Narayanpur.However, a day after their arrest, the families of two of the three tribal women involved firmly denied police allegations, calling the arrests politically driven and devoid of merit.Speaking to India Today TV, the family members refuted the forced conversion charge. One of the women's elder sisters said, "Our parents are no longer alive. I sent my sister with the nuns so she could take up a nursing job in Agra. I worked with them earlier in Lucknow. This opportunity would help her become self-reliant".The arrest also stirred a political storm, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging that the nuns were targeted for their faith. "Two Catholic nuns jailed in Chhattisgarh after being targeted for their faith, this isn't justice, it's BJP-RSS mob rule," he posted on X.Calling it part of a "dangerous pattern" of systematic persecution of minorities, he demanded their immediate release and accountability from the authorities.Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan echoed the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and raised serious concerns over the incident.In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vijayan urged direct intervention to ensure justice, pointing out that the families of the nuns were unable to contact them since the detention and called for transparent and fair proceedings in the case.advertisementTamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin also condemned the arrest, calling it "deeply disturbing" to see Kerala's Catholic nuns subjected to harassment and false accusations by Bajrang Dal in Chhattisgarh.Meanwhile, Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the party had taken swift action to support the nuns."I have 100 per cent belief that it's a misunderstanding and a case of miscommunication,' Chandrasekhar said. He added that while the case was initially treated as human trafficking, the situation appears to be a lapse in registration under the Private Placement Agencies Regulation Act.- EndsMust Watch
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