The arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of human trafficking and religious conversion has sparked a major political controversy. The incident, which took place on July 25, 2025, at Durg railway station, saw the arrest of two nuns, Sister Preeti Mary and Sister Vandana Francis, and Sukman Mandavi, a resident of Narayanpur. They were accused of taking three tribal girls from Bastar to Agra under false pretenses of offering employment, with the intention of converting them.
The investigation revealed that the girls were promised “nursing jobs” and were unaware of the details. Police found a diary with contact details of priests and other girls, indicating a potential network. The case has been filed under relevant laws, including the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act. The accused are now in judicial custody, and the girls are in a protection center. The court initially denied bail, citing that the case fell under the NIA Act. This has ignited a political debate.