Finally freed: Kerala Catholic nuns released from Chhattisgarh jail on conditional bail | VIDEO

Durg (Chhattisgarh): The two nuns who were arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of religious conversion and human trafficking have been released from Durg Central Jail after being granted conditional bail. They were freed after spending nine days in custody.

Outside the jail, Members of Parliament and MLAs from Kerala—including those from the Congress, Left parties and even BJP leaders—stood alongside the nuns’ relatives and fellow sisters to welcome their release. The reception included slogans in support of Constitutional rights.
 

Following their arrest, the nuns were held in Durg jail. The bail was granted by a special NIA court in Bilaspur. A large number of people gathered in front of the jail to share in the moment of relief and celebration. The nuns have now moved to a nearby convent, where they are expected to stay.

Sisters C Preethi Mary and C Vandana Francis were arrested last Sunday at the Durg railway station in Chhattisgarh. The arrest came after a group of Bajrang Dal activists surrounded the nuns and created a commotion. Sister Vandana Francis is a member of the Udayagiri Parish in Kannur, while Sister Preethi Mary belongs to the Elavoor Parish in Angamaly.

The two nuns were accompanied by three young women and one of the women’s brothers. They were on their way to Agra when Bajrang Dal activists stopped them at Durg railway station. The nuns informed the police that the girls were being taken to work in church-run hospitals and parishes, with the full consent of their parents. They also stated that they had all necessary identification documents in their possession.

However, following intensified protests by Bajrang Dal members, the railway police detained the group and handed them over to the local police, which led to the arrest of the nuns.