A team of Pune police, assisted by Ranchi police, on Wednesday, searched human right activist, Stan Swamy’s Namkum residence in connection with probe into the Bhima-Koregoan case. Swamy was interrogated for a brief period. However, he was not taken into custody by Pune police.
Pune Assistant Commissioner of Police, Shivaji Pawar said, “The Pune police assisted by Ranchi police on Wednesday early morning searched the residence of Father Stan Swamy’s Namkum residence and seized some electronic gadgets and other documents.” However, the Pune police commissioner refused to divulge the details of documents seized from Swamy’s residence.
Pawar, who is also the investigating officer in the case said, “The raid was conducted as the probe team has found some new evidences in the case. Sources said that the Pune police have taken the Email account, Facebook account along with password of Swamy from his computer.
Ranchi SP (rural) Ashutosh Shekhar said, “The Ranchi police had gone to spot to assist the Pune police, however, Father Stan Swamy had no cases lodged against him in Ranchi. The raid which started in the morning at around 7.20 am continued for around two hours. However, as the case if of Pune police they will be able to divulge details about seized item.”
The octogenarian Swamy upset with police raid had demanded a judicial probe in entire case.
Sources said that the Pune police after collecting the evidence left for Pune in evening. This is the second time when Pune police have conducted raids at Swamy’s residence within a year. In August, last year the police conducted raids at Swamy’s residence for first time along with six other academics and activists known for their dissenting views against the powers.
Last year, police had raided several locations across the country including Swamy’s residence in Ranchi and arrested right activists Vernon Gonsalves in Mumbai, Arun Ferreira from Thane, Gautam Navlakha in Delhi, Sudha Bharadwaj in Haryana and Varavara Rao from Hyderabad for their alleged links with Maoists. Sources said that Swamy runs a school for tribal children in the area and is considered as vocal critic of both Centre and Jharkhand Government.
The arrested activists had participated at the Elgar Parishad conclave on December 31, 2017 that allegedly triggered violence at Koregaon Bhima village in Pune next day. According to police, the activists were having Maoist links. The activists were booked under provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Meanwhile, human right activists have condemned the incident. Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha condemned repeated raids on Stan Swamy and arrests of other human rights activists. Jean Drèze economist and activist said, “The Mahasabha is shocked by the intimidation and arrests of activists and public intellectuals who are critical of the government and the ruling party at the Centre.”
He further said, “Stan works for the rights of Adivasis and other underprivileged groups in the state. Among other issues, he works on displacement, corporate loot of resources, the condition of under trials and PESA.”