31-07-2025
Diocese of Belgaum condemns arrests of Kerala nuns in Chhattisgarh
The Diocese of Belgaum has condemned the arrest of nuns hailing from Kerala in Chhattisgarh on the charge of trafficking in human beings and religious conversion.
'We strongly condemn the arrests of two Catholic nuns by the Chhattisgarh Police. But we urge Christians and others in civil society to pray for the arrested nuns and the youth while raising their voices against the arrests,' Bishop of Diocese of Belgaum Reverend Derek Fernandes said in Belagavi on Wednesday.
Two Catholic nuns from Kerala, Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, belonging to the Congregation of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, along with a youth named Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on the charge of trafficking in human beings and making an attempt to convert girls.
'The Sisters of this Congregation used to work in our Diocese in Bagalkot earlier. We are indebted to the amount of service these sisters have rendered to the people of Bagalkot irrespective of caste or religion. While this has sparked widespread controversy and protests, joining Christians from across the nation, devotees of the Diocese of Belagavi condemn the action meted out to the innocent nuns and the youth in the strongest of terms,' Bishop Fernandes said.
'While we raise our voices against this and pray intensely that better sense may prevail and the arrested find relief, it is to be noted that in the recent times there has been a surge of such incidents and it is high time that we raise our voices against such incidents,' Bishop Fernandes said.
