- 02 August, 2025
Chhattisgarh, August 2, 2025: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Bilaspur has granted bail to Sr. Vandana Francis and Sr. Preethi Mary, members of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), who were arrested last week in Chhattisgarh on charges related to human trafficking and alleged forced religious conversion. Bail was also granted to Sukhman Mandavi, a tribal youth from Narayanpur arrested alongside them.
Sr. Nitya Francis, provincial of ASMI, speaking to Catholic Connect, expressed deep gratitude following the court’s decision: “I wholeheartedly thank everyone for all their efforts.” She added: “I express my gratitude to everybody for their prayers, moral support, and the support of the Church authorities and political leaders.”
Commenting on the collective effort behind the bail, she said: “It is the collective initiative by many groups. The CBCI also pressured the political parties and stood by us. There were politicians who also helped in securing this bail.” “We give thanks to God,” she said.
Latest information from Narayanpur indicates that the tribal girls involved are planning to file a case against Bajrang Dal activists and Jyoti Sharma.
ASMI is a Franciscan congregation was founded in 1949 in Kerala. The sisters are known for their involvement in health, education, and social outreach ministries, especially among the poor and marginalised.
The arrest came after members of the Bajrang Dal accused the nuns of forcibly converting three women from Narayanpur and trafficking them. The matter was transferred to the NIA court in Bilaspur after the Durg sessions court declined to hear it, accepting the State’s submission that it should be taken up by a special court.
In their defence, the petitioners stated that the three women had willingly accompanied the nuns for employment at their institution, and presented statements from the women's parents affirming that their daughters had left with full consent for work purposes. The arrests had sparked widespread protests by Christian groups and opposition political parties.
By Catholic Connect Reporter
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