Kerala nuns' walk out of Chhattisgarh jail, nine days after arrest

RAIPUR: Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preethi Mary, two Malayali nuns who were arrested in Chhattisgarh, walked out of jail by 3.30 pm on Saturday after securing bail from the NIA court. A big crowd comprising party leaders and church heads, including the Mother Superior, came in front of the jail to receive the nuns.

The NIA court granted bail on the conditions that, in addition to two sureties of Rs 50,000 each, they must surrender their passports to the court, not leave the country, not influence witnesses, not speak to the media, and report to the station once every two weeks. The verdict was given by Principal Sessions Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi.

Sister Vandana Francis, a native of Thalassery, and Sister Preethi Mary, a native of Angamaly, members of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, were arrested on July 25 on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Bajrang Dal activists stopped the nuns at Durg railway station after the duo were seen along with three tribal girls. The girls admitted receiving consent from their parents to travel with the nuns, but the local outfit group smelled foul play. Police had to arrest the nuns after a conundrum broke out as the Bajrang Dal accused the nuns of forced religious conversion.

A case was registered against the nuns on charges of human trafficking and conversion. The nuns were then remanded in judicial custody and lodged in Durg jail for nine days.