Nun from Tura, Meghalaya harassed in Assam, Meghalaya govt requested to step in

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 22, 2024

A nun from St John’s Parish, Tura, Sr. Rosemary was harassed in Goalpara, Assam on February 17.

A statement from the Auxiliary Bishop of Tura informed that Sr. Rosemary, serving at St. John’s parish, Siju, West Garo Hills, Meghalaya, had to travel from Dudnai to Goalpara on February 17, 2024. She boarded a bus at 11.00 am from Dudnai and paid the bus fare up to Goalpara. 

Soon after, the bus conductor and some of the passengers began to make derogatory remarks on her, her religious habit and her faith. After some time, they stopped the bus at an isolated place and she was forced to alight from the bus. 

The incident caused serious mental agony and harassment to Sister Rosemary both as a woman and a religious person. With the help of some other people, the Sister then took another bus to proceed to Goalpara.

The Auxiliary Bishop of Tura stated that there are numerous religious priests and nuns in Assam who wear their religious dress as any other place in the country.

He added that harassment of people because they wear a particular dress or religious habit is ridiculous and unheard of.

The Bishop said, “Such incidents take place because of a false narrative and propaganda spread against a particular religion. It is the duty of any Government to take adequate steps to curb such propaganda and create an atmosphere of social and religious harmony among the citizens.”

The statement further stated that nany from Meghalaya go to Assam for purposes of travel, medical care, marketing. etc and some of them wear their religious habit or carry religious symbols. 

The Bishop said, “In the light of this incident and other incidents reported in the media recently, the Meghalaya Government is kindly requested to take up the matter with Assam Government so that incidents such as the one mentioned above may not be repeated.”