(With inputs from PTI)

KOCHI: In a first in the history of the Catholic church in India, a group of five nuns wearing their habits staged a sit-in protest in Kochi , demanding the arrest of Jalandhar Bishop Franco Mulakal against whom a nun raised allegations of sexual abuse.Those who are protesting are Sr Anupama, Sr Alphy MJ, Sr Annie Jaise, Sr Neena Rose MJ, Sr Josephine MJ and Sr Neena Jose."All of us have given statements against the bishop but the police are yet to make an arrest," said sister Anupama, adding that they have been facing threats from the bishop ever since they started supporting the survivor."He was trying to coerce a statement against the survivor from us by forcing us to undergo severe mental agony. We don't know why the police have failed to make an arrest even after us giving statements on record," said the sister."We are fighting for our sister. She has been denied justice by the Church, government and the police. We are ready to go to any extent for ensuring justice to our sister," a nun told protesters here, who held placards demanding arrest of Bishop Franco.She sought to know why Bishop Franco has not been arrested despite sufficient evidence against him and also questioned the Church's stand on the matter."Seventy-four days have passed since the complaint was made against Bishop Franco. The police recorded her statements several times. But the accused bishop was interrogated only once," the nun said.The nun has accused Jalandhar Bishop Franco of raping and having unnatural sex with her multiple times between 2014 and 2016.