Left MPs Visit Durg Jail for Third Time; Nuns Held in Cell With 53 Inmates, Says John Brittas

Durg: The condition of the nuns imprisoned in Chhattisgarh’s Durg Central Jail is deeply disturbing, said Rajya Sabha MP Dr. John Brittas. He told the media that the nuns, all Malayalis, are being held in a cell with 53 others and added that there is hope they may be granted bail by the NIA court later today. This marks the third visit by a delegation of Left MPs to the jail since the incident.
On Saturday morning, MPs John Brittas, Jose K. Mani, and P. Santosh Kumar visited the Durg Central Jail to meet the imprisoned nuns. Following the visit, Jose K. Mani said that the team had requested the jail superintendent to step in and address the concerns raised by the nuns. He noted that the nuns have been demonstrating extraordinary patience while enduring their confinement, which he described as part of a silent protest.
MP P. Santosh Kumar, also part of the visiting delegation, told reporters that a tribal youth associated with the case was allegedly coerced by jail authorities into delivering statements that had been taught to him through intimidation. He expressed confidence that the court would grant bail to the nuns and confirmed that discussions have already taken place to handle further legal procedures digitally if bail is approved.
MP John Brittas later shared a detailed note on Facebook, stating that the visit was part of the LDF leadership’s effort to express solidarity with the Christian community in Chhattisgarh following what he described as the illegal imprisonment of Malayali nuns. According to his post, the delegation also visited the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Durg and held conversations with Fr. Benny, Sister Merin, and Sister Kristy, who shared their concerns and fears about the ongoing situation.
He said the delegation assured full support to the Christian community in Chhattisgarh. The purpose of the visit, he wrote, was to give confidence and moral strength to a religious community living in fear. He emphasised that this is not just a legal matter but a broader fight to protect constitutional values. Brittas also alleged that the FIR against the nuns was filed based on a fabricated case and said that the protest would continue until it is cancelled.
Referring to earlier statements by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Brittas noted that the minister had assured the prosecution would not oppose the bail of the nuns. He questioned whether such assurances by India’s Home Minister carried any weight when there continued to be delays and resistance in practice.
The delegation also met with representatives from various Christian organisations in Chhattisgarh as part of the visit.