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- Manoj Robin
- Category: NPF News
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A tribal woman claims she was coerced into testifying against Catholic nuns who are still incarcerated.
A tribal woman at the center of trafficking allegations against two Kerala Catholic nuns has alleged she was coerced into giving false testimony by Bajrang Dal members. Kamleshwari Pradhan claimed she was assaulted and threatened by Jyoti Sharma, a Durga Vahini Matrushakti member, to make statements against Sisters Preethi Mary and Vandana Francis.
Pradhan stated the nuns were innocent and that police based their FIR on Bajrang Dal statements rather than the alleged victims' testimony. The nuns, along with Sukhman Mandavi, were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25 for allegedly trafficking three tribal women to Agra for forced conversion.
The case has sparked widespread condemnation, with Kerala's ruling and opposition parties denouncing the arrests. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described the action as "a deliberate act of harassment based on a false complaint." Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi led parliamentary protests demanding the nuns' immediate release.
Key Developments:
- Bail Granted: The NIA court in Bilaspur granted bail to the nuns and Sukhman Mandavi on August 2, with each accused released on a ₹50,000 bail bond.
- Tribal Women's Statements: The tribal women involved have denied coercion or trafficking, stating they willingly consented to travel with the nuns for employment.
- Church Condemnation: The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India strongly condemned the arrests, with Cardinal Baselios Cleemis leading a silent protest march in Kerala.
- BJP's Stance: Kerala's BJP unit distanced itself from the arrests, characterizing the situation as a "profound misunderstanding" ¹.
Reactions from Various Groups:
- CPI(M) Leader Brinda Karat: Condemned the case as "manufactured" and reported concerning jail conditions, alleging discrimination against tribal women seeking employment.
- Church Leaders: Emphasized Christians constitute less than 2.5% of India's population, questioning allegations of widespread forced conversions.
- Human Rights Concerns: Highlighted the potential misuse of anti-conversion laws to target minority communities ².
