By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Aug 1: Chief Minister and NPP national president Conrad K Sangma has written to his Chhattisgarh counterpart, Vishnu Deo Sai, to consider the revocation of a criminal case filed against two Catholic nuns from Kerala who were detained on July 26 at Durg Railway Station.
In his letter, Sangma described the incident as a grave case of harassment and called for immediate intervention to ensure justice and protection of religious freedom.
The two nuns Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethy Mary serve at Fatima Hospital in Agra. According to the letter, they were accompanying three girls from Chhattisgarh to Agra when they were stopped by a Travelling Ticket Examiner (TTE).
The girls reportedly admitted to not possessing valid travel tickets and said they were travelling at the nuns’ request. The TTE alerted local activists, who then alleged that the nuns were attempting to take the girls for forced religious conversion.
The allegation sparked a protest, and the Chhattisgarh police detained both the nuns and the girls based on the activists’ complaint. A case was lodged against the nuns under serious legal sections, which Sangma asserted were baseless and driven by pressure from right-wing groups.
In his letter, the Meghalaya Chief Minister strongly urged the Chhattisgarh government to consider withdrawing the case filed against the nuns.
He also requested a fair and impartial investigation into the matter, while emphasising the need to uphold the constitutional rights of religious minorities in Chhattisgarh.
Sangma highlighted that the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) had already appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking their intervention.
Reaffirming his belief in the principles of justice and religious freedom, Sangma called on the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister to ensure that the issue is resolved in a manner consistent with constitutional values and human dignity.
Hek moves HM Shah
Cabinet Minister and BJP leader AL Hek has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking his intervention in the release of the two Catholic nuns.
In the letter to Shah, Hek urged the former to prevent the “heart-breaking attacks on Christians in Chhattisgarh.”
Hek referred to a recent video circulating online in which a person identified as Jyoti Sharma is seen taking the law into her own hands—checking bags and threatening the nuns—while the state police allegedly stood by as mute spectators.
“She even publicly slapped a pastor, again in front of the police. Such behaviour has deeply hurt the sentiments of the peaceful Christian community across the nation,” Hek said.
He further mentioned that he had a telephonic conversation with the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and had also sent a letter on July 29 requesting the immediate release of the two nuns.
However, Hek stated that no response was received from the Chhattisgarh CM, which prompted him to write to the Union Home Minister seeking urgent intervention.
The Cabinet Minister also condemned the harassment of the two nuns by members of the Bajrang Dal, calling it a matter of national shame for peace-loving citizens.
Demanding strict action against those involved, Hek said, “Anyone involved in the incident must be arrested in accordance with the law.”