Outrage as Stan Swamy dies waiting for bail

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, July 5

Priest-activist Stan Swamy, 84, arrested under an anti-terror law in the Elgar Parishad case, died in a Mumbai hospital on Monday with his bail plea on health grounds hanging fire. His death led to outrage among politicians and activists.

His doctors and advocate Mihir Desai informed a Bench of the Bombay High Court that he had died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Swamy was shifted to the hospital from Mumbai’s Taloja jail in May on HC orders. He had been on a ventilator since Sunday. “We are all very shocked. What to say now? We appreciate your efforts. You made him (Swamy) agree to get admitted to the hospital and he got the best medical treatment. Unfortunately, he could not survive,” the HC said.

The death of Swamy, one of the 16 persons arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the Elgar Parishad case, sparked outrage with activists, politicians and human rights leaders expressing shock. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on October 8, 2020, from Ranchi.

In May, he had told the HC that that his health was deteriorating and he could no longer bathe, walk or write by himself. Swamy’s demise was condoled across sections with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying he deserved justice and the CPM expressing shock.

PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti said, “a ruthless and callous government that deprived Stan Swamy of dignity even while he was alive has blood on its hands.” EU Special Representative for Human Rights Eamon Gilmore said, “Swamy was a defender of indigenous peoples’ rights.” Mary Lawlor, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, tweeted, “human rights defender Jesuit priest Stan Swamy has died in custody nine months after his arrest on false charges of terrorism.” While the HC did not pass orders initiating a judicial inquiry into the demise, it recorded that the amended Section 176 (1A) of the CrPC mandated judicial inquiry into every case of death in custody.