Tribal Women Seek Action Against Bajrang Dal After Durg Nuns’ Arrest

Quick Summary

• Incident and Arrests: Two nuns from Kerala (Sisters Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis) and Sukaman Mandavi, a narayanpur resident, were arrested by Chhattisgarh police on July 25, 2025. The arrest followed a complaint by Bajrang Dal alleging forced religious conversions and human trafficking of three tribal women.

• Victims’ Position: The alleged victims have categorically denied the complaints, stating they were willingly accompanying the nuns. They also mentioned they follow Christianity voluntarily.

• Allegations Against Bajrang Dal Members: The tribal women filed a complaint with the State Women’s Commission accusing Bajrang Dal activists of mental harassment, inappropriate physical behaviour at Durg Railway Station, casteist slurs, and hindering their efforts to file an FIR.

• Legal Developments: A substantive hearing took place in Raipur on August 20,2025. The Women’s Commission issued notices to Bajrang Dal members Jyoti Sharma (complainant), ratan Yadav, and Ravi Nigam for not cooperating fully in proceedings. A fresh notice has been issued mandating their appearance in upcoming hearings.

• Protests: Major protests over the arrests erupted in Kerala with political parties raising concerns about targeting religious minorities.

Indian opinion Analysis

This case highlights complex tensions between faith practices among minority groups in India and oppositional activities of organizations like Bajrang dal within certain regions. Beyond legal allegations regarding conversions or trafficking-which remain under scrutiny-the claimed moral ethos behind such interventions may create societal polarization if perceived as suppressive or selective oversight against specific communities.

The tribal women’s accusations against Bajrang Dal activists could potentially shift focus onto accountability for harassment claims rather than conversion debates alone. If proven valid during inquiries by judicial commissions or courts, it might lead to meaningful repercussions regarding group dynamics between religious organizations/activists pushing ideological imperatives versus individual autonomy protections guaranteed constitutionally under Article 25 concerning worship rights alongside gender dignity intact safeguards requiring neutrality frameworks into disputes adjudicated within Rule boundaries universally shared/stateless domain societal system layers transcending discipline enforcement itself logistical simplicities.Read more here