Opposition, U.N. Call For Stan Swamy’s Release

Protesting activists alleged that the death of Stan Swamy (83) was a "brutal assassination by the prison administration, the NIA, and the government"

Indian opposition leaders on Wednesday called for the release of an elderly priest held on terror charges, one of 16 similar arrests rights groups say are politically motivated.

Stan Swamy, an 83-year-old Jesuit priest working with tribal groups in Jharkhand, was arrested earlier this month on accusations he assisted Maoist groups active in the region.

He was refused bail and is being held under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), that critics say is one of several laws being abused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

“The charges seem to be preposterous,” said Shashi Tharoor, a lawmaker from the opposition Congress, that was one of half-a-dozen parties to speak at a news conference on Wednesday.

“He should be released on bail even if the government insists on these far-fetched charges.”

Sonia Narang, a spokeswoman for India’s federal National Investigation Authority that is in charge of the case, did not respond to a request for comment.

Swamy’s arrest is one of 16 in connection with what began as an investigation into clashes between groups from India’s upper and lower castes in 2018, according to the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, a rights group. All are activists, academics and other intellectuals.