Durg: Railway police on July 25 apprehended three people including two missionary sisters after they were allegedly found to be involved in human trafficking. The trio were picked up by the police from Durg railway station and produced before a court which subsequently reminded them into custody.
According to the details, the arrested individuals sister Priti Merry, Vandana Francis and Sukhman Mandavi were about to board the Hamsafar Express with three young women from the Bastar region. The women were reportedly being taken to Agra and were promised better education and job by the arrested accused.
The incident came to light after members of Bajrang Dal received information about a group of people taking three of the young girls from Bastar to Uttar Pradesh.
The volunteers of Bajrang Dal then reached the railway station premises and confronted the accused. Upon enquiring about the girls, the missionaries initially tried to hide the details. Later on, the group was also joined by other people from missionary group.
Acting on swiftly, the railway police then detained the accused along with the girls. Upon enquiring, the girls disclosed that they were promised jobs and better education by the trio.
The police booked all three individuals under section 143 of the Bharataiya Nyay Sanhita [BNS] and subsequently produced them before a court.
Meanwhile, the girls recovered from the missionaries were sent to Sakhi centre Durg. Two of the rescued women hails from Naxal affected Orchha area while the other belongs to Narayanpur.
It is worth noting here that tribal dominated pockets of the state have long been affected by illegal conversion activities promoted by missionaries.
Activists fighting the conversion menace alleged that vulnerable groups, residing in remote areas are often being targeted by conversion agents who by promising them jobs, education, money etc. cunningly lead them into changing their religion.
