Alappuzha, Kerala: The arrest of two Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of religious conversion and human trafficking has sparked widespread protests from the Christian community across the country.

Sisters C. Preethy Mary and C. Vandhana Francis, belonging to the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI), also called Green Gardens, in Cherthala, were taken into custody at Durg railway station on Saturday. According to reports, members of the Bajrang Dal surrounded the nuns and created a commotion, which led to their arrest.

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) argued that the nuns were accompanying young women with proper consent letters from their parents, and the girls were all over the age of 18. However, despite these legal documents, the local police booked the nuns under conversion and trafficking charges.

The two are currently in judicial custody, and bail applications could not be filed on Sunday due to court holiday.

CBCI also alleged that anti-national elements are increasingly targeting nuns at railway stations and other public places by provoking mobs and hurling abuses. The CBCI urged both the central and state governments to ensure the safety of nuns and take immediate corrective action.

The Syro-Malabar Church and the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) also condemned the arrests and demanded justice.

Terming the incident as another manifestation of Sangh Parivar-backed attacks, AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal accused the BJP-led administration of supporting baseless cases against Christians. He wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, demanding the immediate release of the nuns. Rajya Sabha MP and CPM leader John Brittas also wrote to the Chhattisgarh CM.

Jose K. Mani, MP, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding urgent intervention to secure the release of the nuns and to put an end to the growing trend of Christian persecution.