Born Guilty
On 12 May 2026, Twisha Sharma, 33, was found hanging in her matrimonial home in Bhopal’s Katara Hills. The FIR named her husband and mother-in-law on allegations of dowry harassment.
CPI MP and Rajya Sabha leader P Sandosh Kumar has urged Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to register an FIR against Bajrang Dal activists accused of threatening three tribal girls who were travelling with two nuns recently jailed on charges of religious conversion in Durg, Chhattisgarh.
Sandosh Kumar recalled that Sister Preethi and Sister Vandana were attacked by Bajrang Dal miscreants at Durg Railway Station and later arrested on baseless charges of conversion and human trafficking.
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In his letter, he said, “I visited Chhattisgarh twice in this regard, met the affected persons, and witnessed first-hand the climate of intimidation that has gripped the victims.”
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After ten days in jail, the nuns were granted bail, with widespread support from progressive forces. The CPI has decided to provide full legal and social aid to the tribal girls— Kamleshwari Pradhan (21), Lalita Usendi (19) and Sukhmati Mandavi (19)— who were traveling with the nuns and have since come under threat from right-wing vigilantes.
The girls, from extremely vulnerable backgrounds, have already submitted a signed statement of their ordeal to the SP of Durg.
Sandosh Kumar stated that, “Owing to CPI’s principled stand to support the girls, our Narayanpur District Secretary, Shri Phool Singh Kachlam, has now received threats from these elements. This is unacceptable and reflects poorly on the law-and-order situation in the state.”
The CPI has demanded that the three girls and CPI District Secretary Phool Singh Kachlam be provided immediate security, that an FIR be registered against those issuing threats, and that strict action be taken against vigilante groups attempting to intimidate the victims and obstruct justice.
“Vigilantes cannot be allowed to target poor girls and political activists with impunity. The Chhattisgarh government must act urgently to protect the oppressed and uphold the rule of law,” P Sandosh added while stating that the case had drawn national and international outrage.
Earlier on Monday, Congress MP Hibi Eden moved a notice for Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns and tribal girls in Chhattisgarh on the charges of human trafficking.
In his adjournment motion notice, he demanded a proper investigation into the issue, withdrawal of the case against the nuns, and exclusion of NIA from such matters unless absolutely necessary.
The nuns from Kerala were arrested at Durg Railway Station in Chhattisgarh on July 25.
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