MUMBAI — Ailing octogenarian tribal rights activist Fr. Stan Lourduswamy — an arrested-accused in the sensitive Bhima Koregaon case and awaiting bail on medical grounds — passed away here on Monday afternoon, officials said.
Swamy’s Senior Advocate Mihir Desai brought to the notice of the Bombay High Court judges Justice S. S. Shinde and Justice N. J. Jamdar of the development when his bail plea came up for hearing this afternoon.
“Its with a very heavy heart I have to inform you that Fr. Stan Swamy has passed away,” said Dr. Stanislaus D’Souza, the doctor treating him at a private hospital informed the court.
He added that early on Saturday, the 84-year-old activist — hailing from Trichy in Tamil Nadu — had suffered a cardiac arrest and could not be revived.
Shortly afterwards, the Jesuit Provincial of India said in a statement this afternoon: “With a deep sense of pain, anguish and hope, we have surrendered Fr. Stan Swamy, 84, to his eternal abode.”
It said that ‘the author of life’, Fr. Swamy, whose mission was to work among the Adivasis, Dalits, and other marginalised communities so that the poor may have life and live to the full, with dignity and honour.
“On behalf of the Jesuits of India, especially the Jesuits of Jamshedpur Jesuit Province, I express my deepest condolence to the family members, friends, lawyers, well-wishers, and all those who stood by Fr. Stan and prayed for him during this moment of trial and suffering,” said the statement.
Fr. Swamy was arrested in October 2020 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with his alleged role in the January 1, 2018 Bhima Koregaon caste violence in Pune, and related issues which rocked the state and national politics.
Last week, Swamy had filed a plea in the HC, challenging section 43D(5) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), that imposes stringent bars on the grant of bail to an accused charged under the Act.
Political leaders express condolences
Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to say, “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
“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,” said Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.
PDP leader and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba Mufti said in a tweet, “Deeply disturbed by the passing away of 84 year old tribal activist Stan Swamy. A ruthless & callous government that deprived him of dignity even while he was alive has blood on its hands. Absolutely shocked & appalled. May his soul rest in peace.”
Deeply disturbed by the passing away of 84 year old tribal activist Stan Swamy. A ruthless & callous government that deprived him of dignity even while he was alive has blood on its hands. Absolutely shocked & appalled. May his soul rest in peace.
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) July 5, 2021
“My tearful farewell to Father Stan Swami. His death is a murder and we know who is responsible. RIP,” said Trinamool Congress leader and former union minister Yashwant Sinha.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said in a statement on Monday, “Deeply pained & outraged at the death of Father Stan Swamy. A Jesuit priest & social activist he tirelessly helped the marginalised. Draconian UAPA custody, inhuman treatment since October 2020 with no charge established. Accountability must be fixed for this murder in custody.”
Who was Stan Swamy
The Elgar Parishad case is related to inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which, the police claimed, triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city. The police had claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links.
In the case, Stan Swamy and his co-accused were charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as being members of frontal organisations working on behalf of the banned CPI (Maoists).
Stan Swamy and his co-accused repeatedly complained of inadequate health facilities at the Taloja prison in neighbouring Navi Mumbai, where they were lodged.
Through their pleas filed in the HC as well as oral and written statements made in the HC, they complained several times of neglect on the part of the Taloja prison authorities in ensuring medical aid, timely tests and maintaining hygiene and social distancing.
In May this year, Stan Swamy told a vacation bench of the high court via video-conferencing that his health had consistently declined at the Taloja prison.
Stan Swamy, who claimed to be suffering from several ailments, including the Parkinson’s disease, moved the high sought medical treatment and interim bail on health grounds. He urged the HC to release him on interim bail at that time and said if things continued the way they were, he “would die soon”.
Last month, the NIA had filed an affidavit before the HC opposing Swamy’s bail plea. It said there did not exist a “conclusive proof” of his medical ailments. It alleged that Swamy was a Maoist, who had hatched a conspiracy to create unrest in the country.
Respectful farewell to Fr Stan Swamy.