Ten members of the Sisters of the Visitation congregation were detained and questioned by Railway Police at a railway station in Indore on April 7 after authorities suspected a case of human trafficking.
The group included eight candidates from Odisha and two young sisters. They were preparing to travel home for the holidays when police stopped them soon after they arrived at the station.
According to Bishop Thomas Mathew of Indore, the police had received information claiming that the group could be involved in human trafficking. The sisters and candidates were taken for questioning, but they managed to contact Church authorities and their families.
Priests from the diocese, including the procurator, quickly informed senior railway police officials about the matter. After the intervention, the group was released. However, they missed their scheduled train.
Bishop Mathew described the incident as disturbing and said it reflects the growing suspicion often faced by Church members. He said the exact source of the complaint is not known, but added that there are people who are often critical of the Church.
The bishop also said that even when people are later found innocent, they still suffer loss of time, money, and peace of mind.
In a message to clergy and religious in the diocese, Bishop Mathew advised them to be more careful while travelling. He reminded them that their movements are often watched and that they should take extra precautions to avoid unnecessary problems.
He expressed relief that the matter ended peacefully and thanked God that the situation did not become more serious.
