Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 7: The Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, sent a request letter for justice, through the deputy commissioner to the central government and respected ministers in charge, over two nuns being unjustly booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and laws pertaining to religious conversion, and subsequently imprisoned.
The Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, in the letter stated, "Chhattisgarh, two Malayali Catholic nuns from Kerala, Sr Vandana Francis and Sr Preeti Mary (Angamaliya) of the Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Assisi, Thalassery on July 25, were stopped and falsely accused while traveling with three girls aged around 18 to 19 years, from Narayanapura, Chhattisgarh.
"Of the three girls, one was being accompanied for domestic work, while the other two for nursing studies. However, under the leadership of a woman named Jyothi Sharma, the nuns were detained and accused of human trafficking and religious conversion.
"They were unjustly booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and laws pertaining to religious conversion, and subsequently imprisoned. This incident has shocked the community. The innocent nuns all charges should be widthdrawn and appropriate legal action should be taken on those responsible for such misdeed and justice should be provided. In response to this grave injustice, on Monday, August 4, at 4:00 pm, a massive protest was organized by the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh in front of the Mangaluru Mini Vidhana Soudha. The protest witnessed the participation of nearly 6,000 people, cutting across party lines, religious backgrounds, and divisions, united in the name of humanity and justice."
Santhosh D’Souza – central president, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Paul Rolphy D'Costa – Public relation officer, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Roy Castelino - Public relation officer, Mangalore diocese, Lawrence D’Souza – vice president, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Wilma Monteiro – general secretary, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Alwyn D’Souza Paneer - preceding president Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, Stany Lobo- former president, Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, and Alwyn Rodrigues – assistant secretary Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh, were present.