Chhattisgarh court rejects Kerala nuns’ bail pleas | India News – Times of India

RAIPUR: A sessions court in Chhattisgarh’s Durg disposed of Wednesday the bail pleas of two Kerala-based Catholic nuns arrested for alleged human trafficking and forced religious conversion, citing lack of jurisdiction. The court directed the petitioners to approach the designated NIA court in Bilaspur for relief.Nuns Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, along with tribal youth Sukhmai Mandavi, were arrested by railway police (GRP) at Durg station on July 25 following a complaint from a Bajrang Dal functionary. The complaint accused them of attempting to forcibly convert and traffic three tribal women from Narayanpur district under the pretext of offering employment.The sessions court said it lacked authority under Section 143 of BNS, which deals with human trafficking.