By Jose Kavi
New Delhi, June 11, 2023: The Daughters of St. Anne prayed and fasted the whole day June 11 for Sister Vibha Kerketta, a new member who is in jail for allegedly violating the anti-conversion law of Chhattisgarh state in eastern India.
“I am deeply saddened and anxious about it. Therefore, may I ask you for your earnest prayers, sacrifices and mortifications so that with the intervention of God, Sr Vibha Kerketta, DSA, and family members may be released on bail from the jail,” says a letter from the congregation’s superior general Sister Lily Grace Topno.
Her May 10 letter said Sister Kerketta, her mother and three other family members were jailed on June 6 in Jashpur, a town in Chhattisgarh. Their bail application is scheduled for hearing on June 13.
Sister Topno also sought the intervention of Mother Mary Bernadette Kispotta, the congregation’s founder, for strength to give witness to “our faith and commitment in this challenging and crucial period.”
The Daughters of St Anne’s, the first indigenous women religious congregation in eastern India, was founded 126 years ago. It is based at Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state, Chhattisgarh’s eastern neighbor.
The congregation has 1,113 members residing in 249 houses spread over four provinces and two delegations.
Sister Kerketta, who pronounced her first vows on December 8, 2022, went home at Schoolpara lane of Balachhapar village in Jashpur district, Chhattisgarh. Her family organized a Mass in their home to thank God for her profession.
A group of Hindu fundamentalists barged into the house and accused her mother and others of conducting a healing session and insulting other religions.
On June 10, a nine-member Catholic delegation met the Assistant Superintendent of Police of Jashpur and submitted a memorandum questioning the police’s biased action.
The First Information of Report was recorded at 8:55 pm on June 6, although the law forbids registering cases after 6 pm.
A mob that created havoc in Sister Kerketta’s house had come before the police. “The police came only after the mob called them. Did the mob go there with the knowledge or permission of the police? Was there any conspiracy?” asks the memorandum in Hindi language.
It also points out that a woman can be arrested only in the presence of women police personnel. “Why was no police woman present when Sister Kerketta and her mother were arrested? Why were they taken away at night against the law?” asks the memorandum.
It also questions the sections used in the first information Report – 295A and 153A. Section 295A deals with “deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs,” and section 153A deals with “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.”
The memorandum says none of the arrested had done any of the crime under the two sections any time or anywhere. They only conducted prayer worship according to their faith. They did not take the name of people of any religion or caste, the memorandum asserts.
However, some local newspapers reported the family had organized a healing prayer session and converted a few Hindus, the memorandum says.
On the contrary, the mob that assembled at the nun’s house had violated all these provisions, but no action was taken against them.
Among the mob was Raimuni Bhagat, a people’s representative and the district panchayat president.
The memorandum termed the behavior of a people’s representative as condemnable, irresponsible and worrisome.
It further says the nun’s father Sohn Kerketta had died when she was young and she was under tutelage of her maternal uncle. After her schooling she volunteered to become a nun.
The memorandum also points out a tradition among tribal Catholics where the family organizes a religious function, mainly Mass, when a member becomes a priest or nun. Some 60 people were present for Sister Kerketta’s function that started at 6 pm.
The mob came in cars and motorcycles only after the guests left the place around 9 pm. Bhagat caught Sister Kerketta’s mother by the throat and slapped her. He also snatched her rosary. Bhagat asked Sister Kerketta why she was wearing white sari that is worn by Hindu widows.
The mob also confiscated the family’s ration card saying they do not deserve any government welfare programs since they have become Christians, the memorandum narrated.
The police came only around 10 pm without a woman constable and took the family to the Jashpur police station at 12 midnight. They were presented before the magistrate only after 5 pm the following day. The magistrate set free the nun’s uncle who is visually impaired.