Raphael Thattil, Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, has expressed relief at the granting of bail to the two nuns who were arrested by the Chhattisgarh police on charges of human trafficking and forced conversion.

“While their release has brought solace, the very fact of their incarceration underlines a disturbing breach of India’s secular and democratic principles,” he said in a communication.

He said that the bail has lifted a heavy burden, though “it does not mark the end of our quest for justice”. “We remain committed to seeing this matter through to its just conclusion,” he said.

He said that the Church will not rest until justice is served in full. “The immediate next step must be the quashing of the charge sheet, which is both malicious and factually baseless. Legal proceedings should also be initiated against those responsible for violating the constitutional rights of these innocent citizens,” he said.

The Major Archbishop further stressed that this incident highlights the pressing need to uphold religious freedom and protect minority rights, as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.