Ranchi: Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX, Auxiliary Bishop of Ranchi expressed deep sorrow and anguish over the arrest of Fr. Stan Swamy from his residence in Bagaicha, Ranchi on Thursday, over alleged links to Bhima Koregaon violence in 2017.
After a night long sojourn in the Ranchi NIA Camp Office, Fr Stand was moved to Mumbai on Friday.
Fr. Stan Swamy, a social activist and friend of tribals and the downtrodden is 83 years old, suffers from very serious health ailments, has been very cooperative in the interrogations by the NIA officers for over several hours over the last few months in a case in which he has time and again reiterated that he has been falsely accused.
“We are distressed and troubled in manner in which Fr. Stan Swamy was arrested. It brings no glory to the name of the premier national investigating agency, that they could not find time in the daylight to come to take Fr. Stan Swamy and could reach his residence only after darkness had fallen. Fr. Stan had already offered to answer all questions online and in person in Ranchi at his residence if necessary,” Bishop Theodore said.
“While the NIA is within its rights to investigate all accusations against any citizen, we are shocked at the way Fr. Stan has been treated. Considering his age, his health conditions, was it necessary to come for him in the darkness? Was it necessary for him to be made to travel to Mumbai given the fact that even healthy young people are afraid to travel during this pandemic times?” Bishop Theodore asked.
In the letter Bishop Theodore said the Catholic Church in Ranchi has appealed to the conscience and the compassion of all concerned authorities and all those who have a say in this matter to release Fr. Stan Swamy immediately and to restore him to his own residence.”
Besides Bishop Theodore Mascarenhas SFX the letter was signed by Sr. Punam Soreng SJC.
Picture by Peter Potrowl – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 wikipedia Commons.
I have known Fr. Stan Lourdusamy for the past almost 40 years. I have always found him to be zealous especially with a special heart for the suffering tribals. I have never known him to be offensive, abusive or bearing a violent nature. Being soft spoken, though clear and precise, i have always enjoyed his talks and interventions on behalf of the vulnerable and downtrodden. Always gentlemanly, his incarceration by the law enforcement agencies is wholly undue, smacks of conspiracy to threaten and malign, and amounts to the sheer harassment of an innocent victim. We pray for his immediate release and due compensation for harm committed.
I am now 49 when I first saw Fr Stan.. I probably was around 9 years old then.. when my dad attended one of Fr Stan’s 3-month workshops at ISI Benson Town, Bangalore. I know Fr Stan as a champion fighter for social justice… always fighting for the cause of the poor, vulnerable, marginalised and the weak. “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”
where is judiciary? Where is supreme ………? What is the need for raiding a man of 83 years during night and conduct enquiry? Will he run away from India to a neighboring country? He may be your enemy? Is this way to treat an aged man? This nation is full of answerless questions? Let the Christian love bring in a change in these people. They don’t know what they are doing. Let’s us continue to pray. Prayer brings victory.