Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Debbarma urges Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai to ensure justice for two Catholic nuns arrested for alleged forced conversion and trafficking. Echoing Meghalaya CM’s concerns, Debbarma demands a fair probe, stressing on constitutional values and protection of minorities against false accusations and harassment.
After Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, Tipra Motha Party (TMP) supremo and BJP ally in Tripura, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Debbarma, has appealed to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to ensure justice for two Catholic nuns arrested in the state on July 25. The arrest, made at Durg railway station, has sparked widespread concern across the political spectrum, especially among leaders of Christian-majority northeastern states.
The two nuns, identified as Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis from Kerala, were detained along with Sukaman Mandavi, after a Bajrang Dal functionary lodged a complaint accusing them of forcibly converting and trafficking three girls from Narayanpur. The incident has drawn criticism for being based on potentially unverified allegations.
Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Debbarma revealed that he met the Chhattisgarh CM in Parliament on Friday. Following the meeting, he sent an official letter on Saturday, highlighting the seriousness of the matter and urging fair treatment of the accused.
“We live in a society where groups cannot target people without evidence and the rule of law and Constitution is supreme,” said Debbarma, a former royal and influential political figure in Tripura.
In his letter to CM Sai, Debbarma pointed to statements issued by the BJP Kerala unit that suggest the arrest may be the result of false accusations or harassment. He further emphasized the importance of protecting those who serve society selflessly, particularly members of minority communities.
“It is imperative that those who serve society selflessly, especially individuals belonging to the Christian minority communities, are not made to suffer due to misinformation or prejudice,” the TMP Chief wrote. “We trust that your office will treat this matter with the seriousness it deserves and ensure that justice is served.”
Earlier, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma also addressed a letter to CM Sai, expressing similar concerns. Sangma urged that a fair investigation be carried out and the charges against the nuns be reviewed and possibly revoked. He noted that the two nuns, affiliated with Fatima Hospital in Agra, have been booked under Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968 (related to forced conversions), and Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with trafficking.
Sangma’s intervention came after the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, appealing for immediate intervention and justice in the case.
Meanwhile, political reactions continued to pour in from other northeastern states. In Mizoram, State Congress President Lal Thanzara sharply criticized the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) government, particularly Chief Minister Lalduhoma and MPs K. Vanlalvena and Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, for maintaining silence on the issue.
Speaking in Aizawl on Friday, Thanzara said, “It is disappointing that leaders from Mizoram, where Christian values are deeply rooted, have chosen to remain silent on the arrest of the nuns.” He further informed that senior Congress leaders such as K.C. Venugopal, Lok Sabha MP from Meghalaya Saleng A. Sangma, and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP from Wayanad in Kerala, have all spoken out against the “arbitrary” arrest and shown solidarity with the detained nuns.
The controversy has snowballed into a national issue with religious, legal, and political ramifications. Rights activists and religious leaders across the country have expressed concerns over the increasing trend of arrests based on allegations of religious conversions, especially targeting minority communities.
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Amid mounting pressure, the Chhattisgarh government is expected to review the legal grounds of the case. As multiple state leaders — including allies of the BJP — now demand justice and constitutional adherence, the focus has turned to how the Vishnu Deo Sai-led government will respond.
The case has emerged as a litmus test for balancing religious freedom, legal procedure, and political sensitivities — particularly in a diverse democracy like India.
