NEW DELHI: Father Sabu Joseph of Catholic Church in Bhilai, said the police were under pressure to arrest the two Malayali nuns on charges of human trafficking at Durg in Chhattisgarh. He is also an eyewitness to the incident. A large group of Bajrang Dal activists had gathered outside the police station at the time of the incident. The priest also revealed that the Bajrang Dal activists harassed the girls who were with the nuns in front of the police.

‘The activists threatened to beat the nuns and verbally abused them. They took the things from their bags including the Bible and threw them out. The police were pressured to register a case. A woman named Jyoti Sharma insulted the nuns the most. Even when Christians gather for prayers, they are attacked on the charge of conversion. The police are supporting them,' said Sabu Joseph.

Sister Vandana Francis of Thalassery and Sister Preethi Mary of Angamaly, members of Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate, were arrested on Friday. The nuns, working at Fatima Hospital in Agra, were arrested when they reached Durg railway station to pick up three girls for domestic work. The brother of one of the girls had also arrived at the station.

Bajrang Dal activists stopped the nuns and informed the police, alleging forced conversion and human trafficking. They also alleged that one of the girls had not come with her consent. A case has been registered against the nuns on charges of human trafficking and conversion. They have been remanded in judicial custody and are currently in Durg jail.