Hindu fundamentalists attack nun and young people on a train on bogey of “Forced conversions” despite all being Christian from birth.
Newsroom (03/06/2025 08:55 , Gaudium Press) A young Catholic nun and six Christian youths were forcibly removed from a train in India’s Odisha state and detained overnight by railway police after being falsely accused of religious conversion and human trafficking by Hindu extremists. The incident, which occurred on May 31, has drawn condemnation from Church leaders and human rights advocates, who warn of escalating harassment against Christians in the region.
False Accusations and Harassment
Sister Rachana Nayak, 29, a member of the Congregation of the Holy Family, was traveling with four female candidates and two young men on the Rajya Rani Express when Bajrang Dal activists—a militant Hindu nationalist group—stopped the train at Khorda Road station in Jatni district. The radicals accused the nun of luring Hindu girls into Christianity, despite all travelers being lifelong Christians.
“They claimed we were trafficking girls under the guise of education,” said lawyer Sujata Jena, who helped secure their release. “The truth is, they were headed to Jharsuguda for skills training and English classes.” The group, which included Sr. Rachana’s younger brother, was held overnight by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) before human rights lawyers intervened.
Church Leaders Decry Religious Intimidation
Bishop Niranjan Sual Singh of Sambalpur called the incident “disturbing and alarming,” stressing that India’s constitution guarantees freedom of movement. “We are law-abiding citizens. Such harassment should not happen in a free country,” he told AsiaNews.
Fr. Pradeep Kumar Behera of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Archdiocese echoed the sentiment, condemning the “false accusations” as part of a broader pattern of anti-Christian persecution. Meanwhile, Sr. Aruna Jose, provincial superior of the Holy Family congregation, praised the detained women for their “exceptional courage” and thanked lawyers Clara D’Souza, Sujata Jena, and Sevanti Soreng for their swift intervention.
A Troubling Trend
The Congregation of the Holy Family, founded in 1914 by St. Mariam Thresia Chiramel, focuses on women’s education and family ministry. Its members now face increasing hostility in regions governed by Hindu nationalist groups.
This incident follows a surge in similar accusations against Christians in India, where hardline factions often weaponize anti-conversion laws to target minorities. In Odisha—a state with a history of anti-Christian violence, including the 2008 Kandhamal riots—activists warn that such actions threaten both religious freedom and civil liberties.
As investigations continue, Church leaders urge authorities to uphold constitutional protections and halt the intimidation of faith communities. “This is not just an attack on individuals,” said Bishop Singh, “but on the pluralistic fabric of our nation.”
- Raju Hasmukh with files from Asianews.it
Related Images:
