The Kerala police on Monday registered an FIR against a convent in Karakkamala at Mananthavady in Wayanad district over the illegal confinement of Sister Lucy Kalappura, a nun who had supported the agitation against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
Sister Lucy was dismissed from Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) earlier this month for her "lifestyle in violation of the proper law of the FCC." Sister Lucy had faced warnings from her superiors for her lifestyle decisions, which included driving a car and publishing poems. But troubles escalated between the congregation and Sr Lucy after she supported the protests against rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal.
The decision was conveyed to her on August 7 and she was given 10 days to vacate the convent. The FCC authorities also informed her 85-year-old mother of their decision to oust her from the convent.
On Monday, Sr Lucy was allegedly locked inside the convent. "I was not here for the past two days. I returned on Sunday. When I got ready to attend morning prayers at 6.30 am, I could not move out as I had been locked in. I could come out only after the police intervention," she said in her complaint.
Vellamunda Police told TNM that a case has been registered based on the complaint against the convent inmates under section 342 (Punishment for wrongful confinement) of Indian Penal Code.
Sr Lucy of Mananthavady Diocese in Wayanad was given two warning letters prior to the dismissal, for her “lifestyle” and for challenging the Church and supporting the survivor nun in rape case against Franco Mulakkal.
In September 2018, Sr Lucy was banned from teaching the Bible and attending prayers, worship services and other activities of the parish, including offering holy communion, after she joined the protest led by five nuns of Missionaries of Jesus against Franco Mulakkal.