Mumbai: The National Investigation Agency has arrested human rights activist Stan Swamy from Ranchi, Jharkhand, his colleagues said. Swamy, a Jesuit priest has previously been questioned in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Swamy was taken into custody from the Jesuit-run Bagaicha social centre, where he lives.
In a statement, Swamy said he is not in a position to undertake the journey, given his age and the pandemic. He said he had told NIA that there was a Jharkhand government directive that those above 60 years of age may not appear in public and that he could be questioned over video-conference.
The activist added that the thrust of the NIA investigation had nothing to do with the Bhima Koregaon case, in which he has been booked as a suspected-accused.
Swamy said the NIA falsely implicated his connection with Maoist forces. He said he has been working for Adivasis and questioning the government over issues of land rights, representation of community members and forest rights.