The Communist of India (CPI)-Maoist paid tribute to Fr. Stan Slas Lurd Swamy who passed away on July 5 at the age of 84. He succumbed to a heart attack as the reactionary government in India refused to allow him to post bail despite his old age, and having Parkinsons’ disease and Covid-19. Fr. Swamy supported the struggles of minorities in Jharkhand for three decades.

He was arrested by Indian armed forces in October 2020 after being accused of “terrorism,” membership in the CPI-Maoist, and involvement in a case called Bhima-Koregaon.

He was charged along with 14 other activists, professionals and human rights defenders. They were accused of participating in a “riot” in Bhima Koregaon, Pune district in Maharashtra in December 2017. They were charged for attempting to kill Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. State forces used the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act of 2018 which was amended in 2019 to charge them. The CPI-Maoist called on the people of India and all democratic organizations overseas to support the struggle to junk the said law.