Kerala nuns’ arrest in Chhattisgarh: alleged victims accuse right-wing activists of harassment

The three women cited as victims in a Chhattisgarh case of alleged trafficking and forced religious conversion have told the state Women’s Commission that they were subjected to sexual harassment, casteist abuse, and threats by right-wing activists at a railway police station.

The case involves two Kerala-based nuns, Preeti Marry and Vandana Francis, along with Sukhman Mandavi, who were arrested last month on charges of trafficking and converting the women.

However, one of the alleged victims later told The Indian Express that the nuns were innocent and that she was pressured into making a false statement against them.

The accused were granted bail on August 2.

Appearing before the Chhattisgarh Women’s Commission on Wednesday, the women named a railway police in-charge, another police officer, and activists linked to right-wing groups as those who harassed them.

Commission chairperson Kiranmayee Nayak confirmed after the hearing, “We have sent emails to the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Durg and SP of Railway, and the next hearing has been kept for September 2. We have asked them to furnish the CCTV footage (related to the incident) and to ensure that those who did not attend the first hearing must attend the next hearing. The women have also named a railway police in-charge and another police official.”

Nayak further alleged that Jyoti Sharma, associated with right-wing organisations, had misbehaved with the women. “Jyoti Sharma has misbehaved and abused them, along with two more men. Sharma did not attend the hearing. In all, these five have to appear before us,” she said.

Earlier, the women had attempted to lodge a police complaint against the activists over the alleged harassment, but when that failed, they approached the Women’s Commission in Raipur, said Phool Singh Kachlam, who filed the petition on their behalf.

Sharma, when previously contacted by The Indian Express, denied the allegations.