Father Stan Swamy not in Pune, but still arrested under UAPA; the 84-year-old priest-activist, with Parkison, and COVID died, awaiting bail.
Stan Swamy, who had worked with tribals in Jharkhand for over five decades, was accused by the NIA of links to Naxals, especially the banned CPI (Maoists). He was arrested from his home in Jharkhand capital Ranchi by a team of NIA officials from Delhi.
The NIA (National Investigation Agency) arrested him in October from his home under the anti-terror law (UAPA) in a broadly criticized late-night dive, rejected his bail request in court, and had said there was no “conclusive proof” of his medical ailments. The agency was adamant in declaring Stan Swamy a Maoist who had plotted to cause unrest in the country. He was popularly seen as an icon fighting for the rights of Jharkhand’s tribal populations, Stan Swamy had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease before being jailed, and contracted COVID-19 while in prison.
In the Elgar Parishad Case, Stan Swamy and other accused in the case had complained to the court of poor health facilities in prison and alleged neglect by prison officials in ensuring medical aid, tests, hygiene, and social distancing in the time of COVID.
Jailed near Mumbai since October, Father Stan Swamy spent the last few months of his life struggling even for the smallest of needs. In December, he was allowed a straw and a sipper in jail, which he had requested in court on account of Parkinson’s disease, which took so long for the court to grant him.
Stan Swamy had told the High Court through video-conferencing that his health had consistently declined at the Taloja prison in Navi Mumbai and if he was not granted interim bail, he “would die soon”. He had requested medical treatment and interim bail multiple times.
Last week, Stan Swamy had filed a fresh plea for bail in the Bombay High Court, challenging the stringent conditions for bail to an accused charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA)Act.
Stan Swamy was being treated at the private Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai following a court order on May 28. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had opposed a private hospital and had recommended JJ Hospital, to which, he had said: “I’d rather die here in prison.
When the hearing started today, his lawyer told the High Court that the activist had died at 1.30 pm this afternoon in the middle of his fight for bail on health grounds. The Jesuit priest had been on a ventilator since yesterday when his health worsened drastically.
In May, Stan Swamy had told the Bombay High Court that his health had consistently declined and that if the current situation continued, he “would die soon”.
Srivatsa
@srivatsayb
·
The death of #StanSwamy is a state-sponsored POLITICAL MURDER by the Modi & Shah Govt. Don’t call it anything else.
The death of #StanSwamy is a state-sponsored POLITICAL MURDER by the Modi & Shah Govt. Don't call it anything else.
— Srivatsa (@srivatsayb) July 5, 2021
Prashant Bhushan
@pbhushan1
·
1h
This is nothing less than murder by the State of one of the gentlest & kindest men I have known. Unfortunately our judicial system is also complicit in this
This is nothing less than murder by the State of one of the gentlest & kindest men I have known. Unfortunately our judicial system is also complicit in thishttps://t.co/r7DPK2DH87
— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) July 5, 2021
Shashi Tharoor
@ShashiTharoor
·
1h
Sad to learn of Fr #StanSwamy’s passing. A humanitarian & man of God whom our government could not treat with humanity. Deeply saddened as an Indian. RIP.
Sad to learn of Fr #StanSwamy's passing. A humanitarian & man of God whom our government could not treat with humanity. Deeply saddened as an Indian. RIP. https://t.co/aOB6T0iHU9
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 5, 2021
Pieter Friedrich
@FriedrichPieter
·
5m
The #Modi regime murdered #StanSwamy, a lifelong advocate for the rights of others who was jailed as a political prisoner at the age of 83. His death is an extrajudicial State killing of an entirely innocent man whose only crime was building others up. He will be a martyr.
The #Modi regime murdered #StanSwamy, a lifelong advocate for the rights of others who was jailed as a political prisoner at the age of 83. His death is an extrajudicial State killing of an entirely innocent man whose only crime was building others up. He will be a martyr. pic.twitter.com/9lHLdz0dHm
— Pieter Friedrich (@FriedrichPieter) July 5, 2021
Rahul Gandhi
@RahulGandhi
·
1h
Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy.
He deserved justice and humaneness.
Heartfelt condolences on the passing of Father Stan Swamy.
He deserved justice and humaneness.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 5, 2021
Sagarika Ghose said: “An aged frail Jesuit priest who fought all his life for the poor & dispossessed, mercilessly jailed, at first denied even a straw to drink water, denied timely medical help, repeatedly denied bail, dies in custody. A national tragedy. Who killed Father #StanSwamy?
Dr Kafeel Khan: It’s a murder
Imprisonments without trial is the death of whole justice system Face with medical mask
My head bow in shame Crying face
Father #StanSwamy has passed away.The 84 year old human rights activist had been in jail for 9 months. Was suffering from Parkinson’s .
It’s a murder
Imprisonments without trial is the death of whole justice system ?
My head bow in shame ?
Father #StanSwamy has passed away.The 84 year old human rights activist had been in jail for 9 months. Was suffering from Parkinson’s .
#ElgarParishad pic.twitter.com/x7IyY4CBrg— Dr Kafeel Khan (@drkafeelkhan) July 5, 2021
Sagarika Ghose said: “An aged frail Jesuit priest who fought all his life for the poor & dispossessed, mercilessly jailed, at first denied even a straw to drink water, denied timely medical help, repeatedly denied bail, dies in custody. A national tragedy. Who killed Father #StanSwamy?
An aged frail Jesuit priest who fought all his life for the poor & dispossessed, mercilessly jailed, at first denied even a straw to drink water, denied timely medical help, repeatedly denied bail, dies in custody. A national tragedy. Who killed Father #StanSwamy? https://t.co/aoXMqAcOhx
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) July 5, 2021
The Elgar Parishad case relates to an event on December 31, 2017, at Koregaon-Bhima near Pune, which was followed by violence and arson that left one person dead. However, Father Stan Swamy was not even in Pune and he affirmed he had no links to the event or people concerned, but despite that, he was arrested under UAPA and his trial was left hanging.
Stan Swamy, who had many health problems including Parkinson’s, was the oldest to be arrested.
About His Life:
Stan Lourduswamy, popularly known as Stan Swamy, (26 April 1937 – 5 July 2021) was an Indian Roman Catholic priest, a member of the Jesuit order, and a tribal rights activist for five decades. He had extensively worked in Jharkhand for the rights of the Adivasis and raised up questions on the youths’ unlawful arrests.
Swamy was the oldest person to be accused of terrorism in India. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease and other age-related morbidities. He fell multiple times while in prison. He suffered from hearing loss in both ears and had undergone surgeries and later in prison, he contracted COVID.
It is tragic that a man of his caliber and concern for the people of his state was given such a cruel end, not given justice by courts and arrested by the government simply because he was a social activist.