Nuns Arrested in India on False Charges 

Dear friends, 

I’m writing to share something deeply troubling that has happened in Durg, Chhattisgarh—an incident that reflects the growing hostility faced by Christians in parts of India today.  

Two devoted nuns—Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis—have been falsely accused and arrested, along with three young women and one young man who were traveling with them. 

Here’s what really happened: 

These sisters serve at Agra Convent Hospital, where Sister Preethi is a registered nurse practitioner, and Sister Vandana is a licensed pharmacist. They have faithfully cared for the poor and sick for years. The young adults traveling with them had recently received job offers to work at the hospital kitchen. With full parental consent, they were looking forward to being trained in the medical field in future and starting a new chapter in their lives. 

While waiting at the Durg railway station, a man began to harass and stalk the group, especially the nuns, using degrading and insulting language. When the sisters tried to seek help, things escalated. 

A mob of Hindu extremists soon appeared, chanting “Jai Shri Ram,” and began creating a scene. The police arrived—but instead of defending the victims, they detained the entire group. 

At the police station, a known extremist named Jyoti Sharma entered, slapped the girls in front of the police, and accused the entire group of human trafficking and forced religious conversion—without a shred of evidence. 

Even more shocking, Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and Home Minister released public statements supporting the false trafficking narrative. These unfounded accusations have since been echoed across media outlets, causing fear and confusion. 

The truth: 

• These nuns were not involved in trafficking or conversion.
• The young adults were traveling for legitimate employment, not religious purposes.
• All documentation was in place—offer letters, family consent, and hospital employment records.

What should have been a quiet, hopeful journey became a nightmare—another example of how Christian service and charity are being misrepresented as criminal acts. 

The Chhattisgarh Christian Forum has demanded a formal apology and the resignation of the State Home Minister.  

This case is still developing. By the time you read this, there may be updates—but what remains is the deep trauma and injustice these individuals have experienced. 

Please pray for Sister Preethi, Sister Vandana, and the young people wrongly arrested. Share this story with those in your churches, prayer groups, and communities and most importantly, stand in solidarity with the persecuted Church in India. 

This is not just about one incident. It’s about a growing pattern of fear and discrimination that Christians are enduring every day in regions like Chhattisgarh. And yet, in the midst of all this—we are not without hope. We know God sees. We know justice belongs to Him. 

They may try to silence us, but they will not stop the Gospel. The Gospel must be preached. 

As of the writing of this article, the nun’s have been granted bail.