Women’s commission seeks FIR against right-wing workers for ‘harassment’

The Chhattisgarh State Women’s Commission has urged Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Dev Gautam to file an FIR against right-wing activists accused of threatening, sexually harassing, and abusing three women from Narayanpur district and two nuns at the Government Railway Police (GRP) station in Durg on July 25.

The incident occurred after Bajrang Dal members alleged that the nuns were engaged in human trafficking and forced religious conversions, even though the women involved reportedly said the nuns were only assisting them in finding employment. Following these allegations, the police arrested the nuns, who remained in jail until being granted bail on August 2.

Women’s commission chairperson Kiranmayee Nayak explained that the body had held three hearings on the matter but had not received satisfactory responses from authorities.

She noted that the commission had requested CCTV footage from the Durg railway station, which, according to her, shows the women being harassed by Bajrang Dal workers. She said the commission has now formally written to the DGP, asking that an FIR be lodged against the right-wing activists named in the women’s complaints, Indian Express reported.

Kiranmayee Nayak warned that if the police fail to take action within 15 days, the matter would be escalated to the National Human Rights Commission, where the commission would seek compensation for the women, citing police inaction.

The three women involved said they were satisfied with the steps taken by the State Women’s Commission. However, they pointed out that the incident cost them the job opportunity the nuns had been trying to secure for them, which has left them facing financial hardship.

The arrest of the nuns on July 25 triggered a strong backlash, particularly in Kerala, their home state. Political parties, including the Congress and the ruling Left alliance, along with Christian groups, condemned the arrests.

Videos of the confrontation inside the Durg railway police station quickly spread on social media, drawing further attention to the case.

Following the incident, the three women were moved to a shelter before being allowed to return to Narayanpur. When they later filed a complaint against the right-wing activists with the Narayanpur police, they were told to approach the Durg district authorities since the incident occurred there. The women eventually turned to the State Women’s Commission in August for help.