Christian leaders seek justice and constitutional safeguards amidst growing attacks on minorities
Mangaluru, August 4, 2025 – In a powerful show of solidarity, hundreds of concerned citizens gathered outside the Mini Vidhana Soudha in Mangaluru to protest the arrest of two Catholic nuns and a tribal youth in Chhattisgarh. The peaceful demonstration, led by the Catholic Sabha Mangalore Pradesh (R.), drew attention to what organisers described as growing hostility and legal harassment of Christian minorities in India.
Arrests spark outrage among Christian community
The protest was triggered by the July 25 arrest of Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis—both from Kerala—along with Sukaman Mandavi, a tribal youth from Narayanpur, at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh. They were accused of human trafficking and forced religious conversion of three tribal women, charges that the protestors labelled as “fabricated and unjust”.
Carrying banners that read, “Right to freedom is not only for the majority, but equally for the minority,” and “We demand constitutional rights for those deprived of them,” demonstrators called for the immediate release of the three individuals and for accountability from state authorities.
Catholic Sabha demands action, not silence
Mr. Santosh D’Souza, President of the Catholic Sabha, welcomed participants to the protest and set the tone for the afternoon. Mr. Rophy D’Costa, former president and PRO, in his keynote address, condemned the misuse of the legal system and pointed to the increasing trend of targeting vulnerable communities under the guise of law enforcement.
Sr. Severine Menezes, former CRI President of Mangaluru, passionately addressed the crowd, saying, “Christian institutions serve the most vulnerable—with education, healthcare, and social upliftment. To accuse us of coercion is to attack every person who selflessly serves.”
Rev. Fr. Dominic Vas, current CRI President and Parish Priest of St. Mary’s Church, Bikarnakatta, asserted: “We hold the Bible in one hand and the Constitution in the other. We are patriots—not fanatics. This case is fabricated and must be quashed.”
Call for justice and accountability
Roy Castelino, PRO of the Diocese of Mangalore, raised a crucial point regarding the complaint: “The woman who lodged the complaint has vanished. Yet the sisters were quickly arrested. This is not justice.” He demanded that Jyothi Sharma, the complainant, be investigated for filing a false and malicious case.
Other speakers, including Mr. Stany Lobo, Mr. Alwyn D’Souza, and Mrs. Wilma Monteiro, expressed deep concern over the erosion of constitutional guarantees, particularly Article 25, which assures religious freedom to all citizens. They urged civil society to stand up against what they called a systemic targeting of minorities.
Strong community presence and peaceful demonstration
Former MLA J.R. Lobo, several priests, and numerous religious sisters joined the protest, reinforcing a united front across generations and denominations. Despite a large turnout, the protest remained peaceful and was closely monitored by law enforcement, who ensured the safety of participants.
The message from the Catholic Sabha was firm: this was not just a protest but a demand for justice, dignity, and constitutional protection. The organisation vowed to continue its advocacy until Sr. Preethi Mary, Sr. Vandana Francis, and Sukaman Mandavi are exonerated and justice is served.
