shantoja hid from the persecution of communist regime in the sheldi mountains, but, in the second half of december 1944 he was found there by communist agents and was arrested. accused as a war criminal on january 29 1945 by public prosecutor jonuz mersini, he proclaimed himself innocent. during the prison time, he was tortured by having both arms' and leg's bones broken, and he could walk only on his elbows and knees. archbishop zef simoni, in his memories, wrote that, besides the breaking of his bones, tortures included skinning his legs with hot iron rods, and putting salt on his bare flesh, while he was never medicated. shantoja's mother begged the prison guards to just kill him, so that his sufferings would end.