Stan Swamy, full name Fr. Stan Lourduswamy S.J.

is a Jesuit priest and tribal rights

activist based in Ranchi, Jharkhand for several decades. Aged 83 years, he was
born on April 26, 1973 in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
Swamy has studied theology and has a masters in Sociology from Philippines, where
he also took part in many protests and demonstrations against the local government.
He was also the director of Indian Social Institute, Bangalore - a Jesuit run centre for
research, training, and action for socio-economic development and human rights in
India.
He had been working with Adivasi communities on issues related to land, forest and
labour rights in Jharkhand for over three decades and questioned the non-
implementation of the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution, which mandated the setting
up of a Tribes Advisory Council. He also opposed setting up “land banks” to free up
community land for small and big industries.
It was alleged that the Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC) founded
by him and Sudha Bharadwaj (another communist and social activist), to fight for the
release of more than 3,000 men and women who had been labelled as Maoists and
imprisoned falsely, was a front for Maoist fund raising.
He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on the night of 8 October 2020
under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 on the allegations of being a
member of (banned) CPI (Maoist) and for being a part of conspiracy to instigate
caste-mob violence in Bhima-Koregaon village near Pune back in 2018 (Elgar
Parishad case, in famous culture), making him the oldest citizen ever accused under
the said act.
The NIA chargesheet claims that a lot of indicating documents of his links were
found through digital evidence in the form of “emails, call records, writings (from
Maoist leaders mentioning action against “Hindu-fascist Government”), speeches
and past conduct”, concerning the conspiracy. The chargesheet also accused him of
receiving funds from different Maoists for furtherance of party’s activities and
converting tribals into Christianity.
However, Swamy and his supporters, including other Jesuits deny all the allegations
and believe the real reason for putting away Stan Swamy with such charges was
probably to deflect attention from the anti-establishment issues that he was grappling
with.
In a video released by him just before hours of his arrest on October 8, he stated that
the government is framing him falsely.
"...what is happening to me is not something unique happening to me alone, it is a
broader process taking place all over the country. We all are aware how prominent
intellectuals, lawyers, writers, poets, activists, student leaders are all put in jail
because they have expressed their dissent or raised questions about the ruling
powers of India.” (excerpted from the video)
The Bhima-Koregaon/ Elgar Parishad case
Bhima-Koregoan is a small village in Pune district of Maharashtra. The village holds
an important phase of for Maratha history. On January 1, 1818, an army mostly
constituted of “Dalits” or untouchables, fighting for the Company (EIC) defeated a
well-equipped Peshwa (Brahmins who ruled Maratha kingdom) army.
“Vijay Stambh”, a pillar marking the sacrifice and valour of the Dalit army was
installed in the village as a token of tribute. Since then, people hailing from the same
community come here every year to pay their respects to the soldiers.
2018 marked the double century of the battle, due to which the people come here in
increased numbers to pay their respects. Elgar Parishad was the name of the event
which was held to commemorate the anniversary on 31st December. It was attended
by many activists, artists, lawyers and other significant figures belonging from and
beyond the community including student activist Umar Khalid and retired Bombay
High Court Justice BG Kholse-Patil.
Just two days before of the Elgar Parishad, on December 29, 2017, someone put up
a board hailing the Mahar community (a Dalit community) for performing the last rites
of Maratha King Sambhaji (eldest son of Shivaji) by defying the order of then Mughal
Emperor Aurangzeb, near a structure believed to be the tomb of Govind Gopal
Mahar (a significant personality in Mahar community) in Vadhu Budruk village, about
5 km from Bhima Koregaon village in Pune.
However, local Marathas believe that it was their ancestors who had performed the
last rites which led to a quarrel between the two communities. Same day, an offence
was registered by Dalit activists against 49 persons of Vadhu Budruk village under
the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
So on January 1, when lakhs of Dalits gathered in the city to attend an event to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon, an argument
between the two communities on the above-stated incident turned into a greater
clash leading to death of a person and injuries to several others.
Initially Pune Police was investigating the case and its investigation into the incident
led to the arrest of several activists who they alleged had "Maoist links". The police
alleged that they funded the Elgar Parishad meeting on December 31, 2017, where
inflammatory speeches were made leading to the violence. In the following months
of the event, Police started arresting the people who attended the Elgar Parishad for
inciting mob violence and having Maoist links under UAPA.
The Bhima Koregaon case was then taken over by the NIA on January 24, 2020.
Stan Swamy was firstly inquired rigorously for couple of months and then arrested by
the NIA on October 8. An application was moved by him for interim bail on medical
grounds as he has Parkinson’s disease and recently had undergone ear surgery but
a special NIA court rejected the application saying that Swamy is taking undue
benefit of the pandemic and shifting him to the prison hospital.
Again, a plea was moved in the same special court on behalf of his advocate
seeking a straw and a plate as he was having difficulty in consuming his food due to
Parkinson’s disease. The special court judge D E Kothalikar has asked the national
agency to file its reply before 26th November.
While Arnab Goswami’s arrest is regarded as an infringement of his rights and
privileges, the arrest of innocent prisoners goes beyond just the misuse of law. The
process and in fact, the system itself is at fault.
This arrest has been termed as inhumane and insincere by majority of the people
demanding action for his release from around the globe.