Matters India Reporter
Bilaspur, August 3, 2025 – In a dramatic twist to the controversial Durg conversion case, three tribal girls from Narayanpur have accused Bajrang Dal members and social activist Jyoti Sharma of assault, molestation, and coercion during a July 25 incident at Durg railway station.
The girls—Kamleshwari Pradhan, Kumari Lalita Usendi, and one unnamed person—submitted written complaints to the Superintendents of Police in both Bilaspur and Narayanpur, demanding strict action against Sharma and the Bajrang Dal activists. While an inquiry has been launched, no First Information Report (FIR) has yet been registered against Sharma.
The girls allege they were falsely portrayed as victims of religious conversion and trafficking, and claim they were forcibly detained, abused, and pressured to give false statements against two Catholic nuns.
“Jyoti Sharma hit me twice and threatened me. She forced me to say things that weren’t true,” said Kamleshwari Pradhan. Her account was echoed by Lalita Usendi, who added, “They sent bhaiya [brother] and sister to jail without any proof. Today we got bail, and it feels good.”
The case had earlier led to the arrest of two Kerala-based nuns—Preeti Mary and Vandana Francis—and a tribal youth, Sukaman Mandavi—following a complaint by Hindu activists. The trio was accused of attempting to convert and transport the girls illegally.
However, on August 2, a special NIA [National Investigation Agency] court in Bilaspur granted them conditional bail, citing their clean records and lack of evidence to justify continued detention. Bail conditions include a ₹50,000 bond and surrender of passports. The court also noted that the girls’ testimonies contradicted the initial allegations, raising serious doubts about the complaint’s credibility.
Local rights groups and the girls’ families are now calling for legal action against Sharma and others involved in what they describe as a “fabricated narrative” aimed at inciting religious tensions and maligning Christian missionaries.
The case has reignited debate over the politicization of tribal identities and the vulnerability of marginalized communities in communal flashpoints. Activists and legal experts are urging an impartial investigation and safeguards against misuse of legal provisions.
As the legal battle unfolds, the voices of the tribal girls—once silenced—are emerging as a powerful counter-narrative, demanding justice, dignity, and truth.
Jyoti Sharma may be an activist, whichever power bloc doesn’t matter. But without being abetted by the administration, how can she repeatedly take law in her hands? The strange point is that she has been reportedly absconding despite police complaints against her! She should be brought to book and taught a lesson so that she doesn’t dare to make life miserable for other minority communities.