Thiruvananthapuram: Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Baselios Clemis Catholica Bava of the Malankara Catholic Church has said that the arrest of an innocent Fr. Stan Lourdes Swamy from Ranchi in Jharkhand by the National Investigation Agency is inhumane. The 83-year-old Fr. Stan had requested to be excluded from traveling to Mumbai in the context of Covid. Had applied to be questioned online. Since July, Fr. Stan Swamy was questioned by the NIA. It is known that not a single piece of evidence was found. However, there are serious allegations that he was taken into custody without an arrest warrant.
The executive meeting of the Pastoral Council of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry also protested against the arrest of Fr. Stan Swamy by the Central Investigation Agency on charges of UAPA. Archbishop Mar Joseph Perunthottam presided over the online meeting. The archbishop said the arrest of the priest, who lived for the upliftment of tribal communities, was undemocratic and reprehensible. Auxiliary Bishop Mar Thomas gave an introductory speech on the floor. Pastoral Council Secretary Dr. Dominic Joseph, Anthony Thomas Malayil, Dr. Rekha Mathews, Dr. PC Aniankunju, Adv. Joji Chirayil, Adv. Sunny Chathukulam and Shijo Mathew spoke.
