New Delhi, India – Two nuns in India’s Mayurbhanj district were arrested on Saturday for allegedly making two non-Christian girls sing hymns in praise of Christ.
The arrests were made after the students of a Catholic residential school – Sarojini Murmu, 12, and Anjana Behera, 10 – complained.
The students reported that they were compelled to sing hymns and participate in prayers, which was against their wish.
The nuns were booked under Sections 323 (causing simple hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 4 (forcibly attempting conversion) of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act.
After the arrests, Fr. Isaac of the Catholic Diocese in Balasore rushed to Mayurbhanhj. He said the charges were "cooked up".
The issue came to light after the students ran away from the school hostel.