Mangaluru: A silent human chain protest was held on Monday, October 12 evening, against the arrest of Fr Stan Swamy SJ by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The protest, organised by the St Aloysius Institutions, Citizen Forum for Mangaluru Development, Spandana Trust, and other like-minded citizens of Mangaluru at the St Aloysius College campus.
Observing October 12 as “National Day of Solidarity”, the protest was carried out in solidarity with Fr Stan and other human rights activist who is being harassed and tortured for seeking justice for the Dalits, Adivasis, minorities, unorganised labourers, fisherfolk, distress migrants, Dalit Christians, and other persecuted sections of society.
It can be recalled that Fr Stan was arrested by a team of NIA officials on October 8 from his residence in Ranchi-Jharkhand in connection with a probe into the 2018 violence in Maharashtra’s Koregaon-Bhima village. Fr Stan (83), who has been fighting for the rights of tribals and Adivasis in Jharkhand, has denied the allegations made against him, claiming that he has never been to the said village. Fr Stan’s supporters have alleged that NIA agents have linked Fr Stan to Maoist guerrillas, but he was only defending the rights of prisoners, Dalits, tribals, and his work impacted the interests of politicians in government, giving rise to this issue.
Sources have stated that the officials spent around 20 minutes at Fr Stan’s home before taking him away. The arrest has sparked outrage across the country. Noted author and historian Ramachandra Guha also tweeted in support of the priest saying, “Like Sudha Bharadwaj, Stan Swamy has spent a lifetime fighting for the rights of Adivasis. That is why the Modi regime seeks to suppress and silence them; because for this regime, the profits of mining companies take precedence over the lives and livelihoods of Adivasis.”
Meanwhile, the agency has said documents and propaganda material of the CPI (Maoist) and literature were seized from Fr Stan. They also accused him of being in contact with the other accused in the Koregaon-Bhima case. The other accused in the case include Gautam Navlakha, Anand Teltumbde, Hany Babu, Kabir Kala Manch, Sagar Ghoghare, Ramesh Gaichor, Jyoti Jagtap, and others.
Those present at the time of Fr Stan’s arrest said that the NIA officials were arrogant and rude and did not even serve a warrant before taking him into custody.
In a press statement released earlier in the day, the organisers of the silent human chain protest expressed that is shocking to those human rights activists who have dedicated their lives to bringing justice and livelihood to the most marginalized groups have been continually targeted and victimized. Stan Swamy, SJ has been a recent and tragic example of such draconian actions. Protests were held nationwide by various organizations demanding the immediate and unconditional release of activists who have been sent to jail for standing up for the marginalised communities and tribes.
The treatment of an aged man by the Indian Government, and the NIA in particular, speaks volumes about how the current regime will not tolerate any voice of dissent that stands for truth and justice, particularly those on behalf of the marginalised members of society. Fr Stan’s illegal and unconstitutional detention has been widely and vehemently condemned by all sections of society.
Before the protest, talks were delivered during a Zoom session, where eminent speakers such as Bombay High Court advocate Lara Jesani and Jamshedpur Jesuit Province Fr Tony PM SJ informed the audience about the issue.
Rector of St Aloysius Institutions Fr Melwyn Pinto SJ and Principal of St Aloysius College Fr Praveen Martsi SJ appreciated the support shown by those who turned up for the protest and thanked them for showing solidarity with Fr Stan and other persecuted human rights activists. Faculty at St Aloysius College Naveen Mascarenhas compered the programme and HR Head at SAC Dr. Senek D’Souza and his choir sang “We Shall Overcome”.
