In a significant development, a special NIA court in Chhattisgarh has granted conditional bail to two Kerala-based nuns and a tribal youth arrested last week on charges of human trafficking and alleged forced religious conversion.
Principal District and Sessions Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi granted bail to Sisters Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis of the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), along with Sukaman Mandavi, a tribal youth from the state.
The case, which has sparked political and social outcry, was described as a "false allegation" by leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). CPM leader Brinda Karat hailed the court’s decision as a “big victory” for tribal and Adivasi groups, demanding legal action against right-wing outfits Bajrang Dal and Hindu Vahini for filing what she termed as “baseless and malicious” complaints.
Echoing similar sentiments, CPM Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas stated, “This is a victory for the Constitution. It was a fabricated case against the nuns. Our fight will continue until the FIR is fully quashed.”
The court’s decision has drawn national attention, with civil rights advocates pointing to growing concerns over the misuse of laws to target minority communities and tribal outreach programs.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)