Sat Aug 02 07:39:15 UTC 2025: Here’s a summarized news article based on the provided text, written from an Indian perspective:
**Headline: Chhattisgarh Court Grants Bail to Kerala Nuns Amid Conversion Controversy**
**Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh – August 2, 2025** – A special court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has granted bail to two Catholic nuns from Kerala and a local resident who were arrested last week on charges of human trafficking and forced religious conversion. Principal District and Sessions Judge Sirajuddin Qureshi issued the order on Saturday after reserving his decision following a hearing on Friday.
The nuns, identified as Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, and Sukaman Mandavi, were arrested on July 25th at the Durg railway station. The arrest stemmed from a complaint filed by a member of the Bajrang Dal, a right-wing Hindu organization, alleging that the trio were forcibly converting three girls from the Narayanpur district and trafficking them.
Defence lawyer Amrito Das highlighted that the prosecution did not seek custody of the accused for further interrogation and that the alleged victims have since returned home. The case has sparked protests from the Christian community, as seen in rallies across India, including one held in Hyderabad on July 31st. The incident highlights the ongoing sensitivities surrounding religious conversion in India and the potential for such accusations to escalate into legal action. The court has granted conditional bail, details of which were not immediately available. The case remains open and further investigation is expected.
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