KOCHI: One of the sisters of the survivor nun will launch an indefinite hunger strike at Vanchi Square here at 11am on Monday. Five nuns have been staging a protest at the venue for the past nine days demanding the arrest of bishop Franco Mulakkal in the rape case.On Sunday morning, Stephan Mathew, who was on hunger strike for the past nine days, was arrested and moved to a hospital after his health deteriorated. However, he is continuing the strike at the hospital.Aloshya Joseph, a Pala native, started the hunger strike on Sunday, and the protesters said that noted human rights activist P Geetha, would begin indefinite hunger strike from 5pm on Monday as well.“We are planning to open protest centres at all districts on Monday and Tuesday. A mass public gathering will be held at Kuravilangad in Kottayam, while activist and author M N Karassery will lead a protest by keeping awake for 24 hours on Monday at Kozhikode ,” said Fr Augustine Vattoli, the coordinator of Save our Sisters (SOS) movement. He added that SOS was planning to organize a statewide protest on Tuesday where protesters would take to the streets bearing lighted torches.Kalakakshi, an artists’ collective, started a letter campaign selling postcards at the protest venue addressed to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking Franco’s arrest. They are also trying to raise funds for the protest through the campaign.Police are closely monitoring the protest due to suspected involvement of groups with extremist links. Fr Vattoli said that they were vetting those directly involved in the campaign but anyone could walk-in and participate in the protest.

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