CECI flays rise in atrocities on minorities
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Unjust Arrest of Catholic Nuns and Tribal Youth in Chhattisgarh : A Human Rights Crisis Amid Rising Attacks on Christians in India
New Delhi (Team Newsbuddy) The Council of Evangelical Churches in India (CECI) has welcome the NIA Court’s decision to grant bail to the two Catholic nuns and a tribal youth in the case. This order offers a momentary reprieve in what has been a deeply disturbing episode of wrongful arrest and harassment.
In a profoundly alarming incident, two Catholic nuns, Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, along with Sukhman Mandavi, a tribal youth, were detained at Durg (Chhattisgarh) Railway Station on July 25, 2025, under baseless allegations of human trafficking and coerced religious conversion involving three tribal girls. These young tribal women, aged 18–19, were lawfully travelling to Agra with the nuns for employment opportunities, accompanied by written consent from their families.
Despite the absence of any evidence supporting claims of coercion or conversion, and with clear documentation affirming the legitimacy of their journey, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the group following a complaint by a Bajrang Dal activist. A video circulating online shows the nuns and tribal youth being abused, beaten up and threatened by the Bajrang Dal in police custody – yet no action has been taken against the culprits.
A Flagrant Breach of Fundamental Rights: This incident constitutes a grave violation of Articles 14, 21, and 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law, personal liberty, and freedom of religion, respectively. The conduct of the police and judiciary in this matter raises serious questions about the impartiality and integrity of state institutions. Equally concerning is the involvement of railway authorities, who, rather than adhering to protocol, engaged a vigilante group, thereby compromising the safety and dignity of the women involved.
A Systemic Pattern of Persecution: This case is not an isolated occurrence but part of a broader, escalating trend of anti-Christian violence across India. In 2024 alone, human rights organizations have documented over 600 incidents of targeted harassment and violence against Christians, including attacks on churches, physical assaults, and arbitrary detentions, often justified under the guise of Freedom of Religion Acts. States such as Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh, particularly the tribal-dominated Bastar region, have emerged as focal points of this persecution, where vigilante groups operate with apparent impunity. These acts disproportionately target marginalized communities, especially Christians from Scheduled Tribe, Scheduled Caste, and Other Backward Class backgrounds, and are frequently accompanied by social boycotts and institutional indifference.
Urgent Call for Action : The Council of Evangelical Churches in India demands immediate release of Sister Preeti Mary, Sister Vandana Francis, and Sukhman Mandavi. We further call for :
- The dismissal of all unfounded charges against them.
- Legal accountability for Bajrang Dal members responsible for harassment and mob intimidation.
- A comprehensive investigation into the mishandling of the incident by police and railway authorities.
- Robust measures to safeguard the constitutional and human rights of religious minorities, particularly women and tribal populations.
They have urge the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the National Commission for Minorities and other statutory authorities to intervene promptly and oversee the situation. The Government of India and state governments must uphold their constitutional obligations and prevent the misuse of legal frameworks to suppress minority communities for politically motivated purposes.
