Social justice outfit members stage protest in Mumbai over Stan Swamy’s death

Mumbai, July 7

Members of a social justice campaign committee on Wednesday alleged the death of Elgar Parishad case accused Stan Swamy in judicial custody was an “institutional murder” and staged a protest over the issue here.

The Joint Action Committee for Social Justice – Maharashtra and Bhima Koregaon Shaurya Din Prerna Abhiyan – claimed there was a well-planned conspiracy to suppress dissenting voices.

Its members staged the protest at Dadar over the death of Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist.

Swamy, 84, who was in judicial custody in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case and facing charges under the anti-terror act UAPA, died on Monday while undergoing treatment at a private hospital in suburban Bandra.

“In a chilling and cold-blooded manner Father Stan Swamy has been institutionally murdered by the fascist Brahminical state,” the committee alleged in a press release.

“Fr Stan had been a lifelong human rights activist, a tribal leader, an academician, an intellectual and a loved Jesuit,” it said.

The release, citing a report by a US-based digital forensics firm, claimed it highlights “the malicious role of the fascist BJP/RSS-ruled state in planting false evidence against the Bhima Koregaon accused”.

Father Stan’s death should serve as a wake-up call for the country’s criminal justice system, it added.

The committee demanded the release of all the accused arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case (also called Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case), alleging charges against them were fabricated.

It also sought the release of all political prisoners and repeal of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). PTI