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 Bhubaneswar: All India Christian Council (aicc) has expressed serious concern over the arrest and imprisonment of two nuns from Baripada in Orissa for their alleged conversion activities.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Secretary, Government f Orissa, Rev PR Parichha, the aicc (Orissa Chapter) president, said, “We are grieved over the manner in which the two innocent nuns were arrested, detained and then sent to jail on the basis of baseless allegations.” The copies of the memorandum were also forwarded to the Principal Secretary, Home Department; DG of Police, Cuttack; DIG of Police, Balasore; the State Human Rights Commission, Bhubaneswar; the National Minority Commission, New Delhi; the District Collector of Mayurbhanj; and the Additional District Collector of Mayurbhanj. The aicc leader said a fact-finding team deputed by aicc visited the place and interacted with nuns of the girls hostel and St Ann's School at Baripada where the two nuns were staying and also several priests. “It is surprising that the nuns were taken hurriedly to the police station in the early morning on 28 July 2007 as if they were criminals and sent to court without any proper intimation to the school authorities. As a result the two innocent nuns with physical ailment had to remain in custody for two days despite the offence stated was bailable. We are anguished to note that the manner in which the Section 4 of Freedom of Religion Act had been applied against the nuns. Before taking such drastic action against the nuns, the district authorities should have taken note of the fact that the two complainants who were admitted in the hostel were under the discipline of the institution,” he said. The institution shelters a total of 89 girls, rendering educational service to the people around for many years. Parichha said, “There is no proof of any conversion or criminal activity against the nuns. It is therefore most unfortunate that the two nuns who have dedicated themselves to the welfare of the children and people of the area were treated like criminals by the police.” The Christian leader said, “The criminal case lodged against the nuns appears to be malicious and fabricated. Therefore henceforth before taking any such drastic action on a sensitive matter such as this, we expect your office to be careful to look into the veracity of such complaint and take appropriate action so as to protect the members of minority Christian community from malicious prosecution and harassment.”
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