Indian Jesuit Father Stanislaus Lourdusamy says a treason charge linking him with militant Maoists is a fabrication being used to discredit his work for prisoners and tribal people.
The 82-year-old Jesuit, popularly known as Stan Swamy, was charged along with eight other rights activists on Aug. 28 for alleged links to a banned Maoist group in the western State of Maharashtra.
Police have also linked the activists with violence between Dalit and upper-caste Maratha people in the state earlier this year. “It is nothing but a complete concoction and absolute falsehood that is being propagated by Maharashtra police,” Father Swamy said in a Sept. 3 statement.
Father Swamy said he has been convener of an organization called Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC) which assists under- trial prisoners.
