Assaults on Catholic missionaries working with tribal and Dalit communities in India's hinterlands are not new. Sister Rani Maria, a nun from Pulluvazhy near Kochi, was working with Dalit and tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh when she was brutally stabbed to death in 1995 – the killer hired by local moneylenders.
Published Jul 29, 2025 | 2:00 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 29, 2025 | 2:00 PM
Sr Selmy with Samundar Singh, and Sister Rani maria
Synopsis: The arrest of two Catholic nuns originally from Kerala, in Chhattisgarh, on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion while escorting three women reportedly bound for domestic work at Fatima Hospital in Agra, has drawn widespread condemnation from Catholic leadership in Kerala, political leaders across the country, and civil society – with many alleging that the arrests reflect increasing legal and physical pressure on missionaries working in rural and tribal regions of the country.
For many in Kerala, names like Surlakhapa, Tinsai, and Barul – villages nestled deep in the forests of Madhya Pradesh’s Chhindwara district – feel almost as familiar as their own.
That connection began more than six decades ago, when a young girl from Pala, Mercy Mathew, left home at just 16 to pursue a life of service. Known today as Daya Bai, she abandoned the comforts of convent life in 1958, choosing instead to walk barefoot alongside tribal and oppressed communities – not as a missionary, but as one of their own.
Daya Bai
In her footsteps followed thousands of others – nuns and priests – who left behind their language, comforts, and recognition to serve in some of India’s most neglected and harsh regions.
But today, that same legacy of selfless service stands accused.
Two nuns from Kerala, Sister Vandana Francis of Thalassery and Sister Preethi Mary of Angamaly, have been caught in a storm of controversy.
Accused of forced religious conversion and human trafficking in Chhattisgarh, they were detained at Durg railway station, where they had gone to receive three girls reportedly arriving for domestic work at Fatima Hospital in Agra, where the nuns are employed.
In response, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging immediate intervention to secure the release of the two nuns. He emphasised the seriousness of the situation and the distress it had caused in Kerala.
Congress MP and party general secretary KC Venugopal also raised the issue in a letter to Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, clarifying that the nuns, who work at a hospital in Agra (Uttar Pradesh), were in Durg (Chhattisgarh) to assist three women with employment.
The case has since become a flashpoint, drawing widespread criticism from Christian groups and political leaders across Kerala.
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said the incident reflected a “dangerous pattern of systematic persecution of minorities” under the BJP regime.
Yet even as civil society rose in protest and opposition parties rallied behind the nuns, the BJP remained silent – both in Delhi and in Kerala.
Assaults on Catholic missionaries working with tribal and Dalit communities are not new.
Sister Rani Maria, a nun from Pulluvazhy near Kochi, was working with Dalit and tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh when she was brutally stabbed to death in 1995 – the killer hired by local moneylenders.
Years later, her family made an extraordinary gesture of forgiveness. Her sister, Sister Selmy, tied a rakhi on the killer and helped secure his early release.
As Church sources say, “We couldn’t wait for justice unless someone became a martyr.”
In January 1999, Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, Philip and Timothy, were burned alive in Odisha when a Hindu extremist mob allegedly led by the Bajrang Dal set fire to their vehicle while they slept.
Just this year, on 23 May, two Malayali Catholic priests – including a 90-year-old – were brutally attacked at Carmel Niketan Ashram in Charwachi, Kuchinda, Odisha.
The victims, Fr Linus Puthenveed and Fr Sylvin Kalam, told South First that the assailants tied their hands and feet, gagged them, and beat them severely.
Fr. Linus Puthenveed and Fr. Sylvin Kalam.
Both priests were brought to St Joseph’s Hospital in Manjummel, Kochi, on the night of 25 May for treatment, following directions from Manjummel Provincial Fr Augustine Mullur. Fr Sylvin was serving as the ashram’s superior at the time of the attack.
The Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC) Jagratha Commission condemned the incident, highlighting the significant role Catholic missionaries have played in Odisha’s tribal and rural areas – particularly in healthcare and education.
With over 1.2 million Christians in Odisha, many from economically marginalised communities, the Commission stressed the need to uphold their constitutional and human rights.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal MP demanded the formation of a special team to investigate the attack. The probe is currently ongoing.
When South First contacted Sister Maria Rosa – a former nun and writer – she shared her perspective based on over two decades of service in Uttar Pradesh.
Lucy Kalappura on an indefinite fast in front of her convent on Wednesday. (Supplied)
“I worked in UP for more than 25 years. There’s a stark difference between then and now. Of course, I too faced unpleasant incidents, but nothing as intense as what we are witnessing today. The growing influence of right-wing elements and the prolonged situation in Manipur cannot be ignored.
“However, I don’t want to comment directly on this case. I will respond only after the court determines whether the nuns are guilty or innocent,” she said.
She also questioned the silence of nuns’ organisations. “Are there not organisations for nuns? Have they issued any statement? If not, why should I be the one to speak out?” she asked.
Sister Lucy Kalappura, known for leading the protest against Bishop Franco Mulakkal, also responded cautiously.
“We don’t know the exact details of the case. Some media reports say the girls involved are minors, others claim they are adults. Earlier, Christian convents used to appoint young girls, sometimes even Malayali girls, as assistants,” she said.
“But now, no one from Kerala is willing. So, in places like Aluva and Thalassery convents, girls from Bihar and other northern states are brought in. Why continue that practice? Why bring them in before they turn 18? I don’t support it.”
Mar Andrews Thazhath, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), called the arrest of the nuns in Chhattisgarh a “deeply painful incident,” adding that the charges of human trafficking and religious conversion were “trumped-up” and amounted to a gross violation of constitutional rights.
Cardinal Klimis
Speaking at Mount St Thomas, Kakkanad, Kochi, on 28 July, Mar Thazhath said the incident reflected a growing atmosphere of fear for religious minorities in India.
“This is a clear infringement on the right to religious freedom and a blatant attack on the secular fabric of the nation,” he said, adding that the matter had been raised with the Prime Minister, Union Home Minister, and MPs Suresh Gopi and George Kurien.
“This arrest is simply wrong. These nuns were only working for the uplift of the marginalised. The Constitution must be safeguarded. India’s secular legacy is under threat,” he warned.
Church PRO Fr Tom Olikkarot and Syro-Malabar press wing spokesperson Fr James Kokkavayal told South First that they fully echoed Mar Thazhath’s views.
Similarly, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) strongly condemned the arrest of the Malayali nuns in Chhattisgarh.
KCBC President Cardinal Mar Klimis called it a serious violation of religious freedom and an attack on the Constitution. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure the protection of minority rights and demanded that political leaders take a clear and firm stand.
Addressing the media, Mar Klimis said such incidents are recurring in BJP-ruled states, and that no effective measures are being taken to prevent them.
Responding to Minister V Sivankutty’s recent remark – that bishops lack the courage to directly tell the Prime Minister about the challenges facing the Christian community – the Cardinal said political leaders must show integrity, adding that the Church has every right to critique political double standards.
On Monday evening, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai made his first public statement regarding the arrest of the two Malayali nuns, calling for the case to be “not politicised”.
“Through inducement, an attempt was being made to engage in human trafficking and conversion. This is a serious matter related to women’s safety. The investigation in this case is still ongoing. The matter is under judicial review, and the law will take its course,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Chhattisgarh is a peaceful state where people of all religions and communities live in harmony. It is extremely unfortunate to give a political colour to the issue related to the safety of our Bastar daughters.”
Meanwhile, Minister P Rajeev visited the home of the Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh on charges of religious conversion.
Calling it a case of “mob trial,” the minister said all legal options were being explored, and that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had personally intervened in the matter.
Minister P Rajeev visited the home of the Malayali nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh
Rajeev assured the family of full government support and criticised the incident as a violation of religious freedom.
“This is not just a Christian issue but part of a disturbing pattern of attacks on minorities. It demands a united democratic response,” he said.
Meanwhile, Shyju Antony of the Save Our Sisters forum told South First that Christian missionaries are facing growing hostility, particularly in remote regions, from right-wing groups.
“Bajrang Dal now shows zero tolerance towards Christian symbols – whether it’s a cross or a Christmas crib,” he said. “What’s more concerning is that no serious discussions are taking place in churches about these recurring attacks.”
Antony noted that many priests and nuns posted in these areas work in extreme isolation, often without even basic infrastructure or security. He recalled meeting a nun at Lisie Hospital in Kochi who works in interior Odisha.
“She told me it takes 24 hours to reach her village from the nearest bus stop. They live in huts,” he said.
When he asked her why she continued to stay in such unsafe and remote conditions, she replied: “People live even in deep forest areas. They face wild animal attacks, especially during hunting. Someone has to be there to provide them with medical care.” Antony pointed out that she is a graduate nurse, and described her work as “real service”.
He added that most of these priests and nuns are based in parts of India that are unfamiliar to many. Yet, these are also the areas where attacks have been concentrated.
“Also, we must recognise a disturbing pattern – these attacks happen in rural pockets, not in urban hospitals or schools,” he said. “Why? Because in the cities, priests and nuns serve the upper classes, who benefit from their presence.
“But in villages, they’re helping Dalits and the poor rise, and this threatens upper-caste dominance. There’s a mindset that the underprivileged should remain that way. So interference begins.”
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
