Death by state: Father Stan Swamy fought for decades to uphold rights of tribal people in Jharkhand

Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Fr Stan Swamy who was jailed under the antiterror Unlawful Acts Prevention Act in the BhimaKoregaon case died on Monday in judicial custody drawing condolences from people from all sections of the society The 84yearold spent his last few months fighting for even minor needs like a straw and a sipper His repeated pleas for bail on health grounds could never fructifyHe breathed his last at Bandrarsquos Holy Family Hospital around 130 pm the hospitalrsquos director Dr Ian Drsquosouza told the Bombay High CourtOn July 3 a bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamdar had adjourned the hearing in his most recent bail plea to July 6 after Swamyrsquos counsel Senior Advocate Mihir Desai said Swamyrsquos health was critical and that he was still in the ICUFr Swamy had worked extensively for the adivasis in JharkhandOn Monday Desai yielded the floor to Dr Drsquosouza who informed the court that Swamy had suffered a cardiac arrest around 430 am on Sunday after which he was put on life support and never regained consciousness ldquoIt is with a very heavy heart I have to inform you that Fr Stan Swamy has passed awayrdquo said Dr DsouzaFr Swamy who was arrested last October was shifted to the Bandra hospital from Taloja Jail on May 29 after he tested positive for Covid19 He was suffering from Parkinsonrsquos disease lower back pain and bilateral hearing loss Although he recovered from Covid19 he was in and out of ICU due to an abnormally fast or erratic heartbeat ldquoWhile we shifted him to the ward a week ago we had to move him back to ICU on June 29 He was on a ventilator and had a cardiac arrest We tried our best to revive himrdquo said a doctorSince Swamy died in judicial custody his body will be sent for postmortem Later it will be handed over to his longtime friend and close confidant Fr Frazer MascarenhasSwamy is not survived by any blood ties or immediate family by virtue of him being a Jesuit priest Fr Frazer a former principal of Mumbairsquos St Xavierrsquos College said it hasnrsquot been decided whether Fr Stan will be cremated or buried ldquoI was his student about 40 years ago at the Indian Social Institute in Bangalore which is run by the Jesuitsrdquo he said ldquoI was a young Jesuit at the time who was studying the social analysis course under him The type of socioanalysis he provided us with was excellenthelliphe had a deep and thorough understanding of Indian societyrdquoA protest against Fr Swamyrsquos arrest in Jharkhand last year FileAFPlsquoTreated very badly by jail authorities JJ HospitalrsquoFr Mascarenhas said Fr Swamy was treated very badly in jail Despite having clear Covid19 symptoms he was not given an RTPCR test he said Fr Swamy was made to travel from Taloja to JJ hospital and back and when the court later ordered that he be taken to JJ he was vaccinated there despite having fever and sent back to jail he said Calling it ldquonothing short of criminal negligencerdquo Mascarenhas said Fr Swamyrsquos Parkinsonrsquos worsened in jail tooFr Mascarenhas said he last spoke to Fr Swamy on Saturday night ldquoWhen I told him we were soon expecting bailhe said he would have to practise walking since he hadnrsquot been able to walk in a long timerdquoAsked what led to Swamyrsquos demise advocate Desai said ldquoAccording to me it was negligence at the level of the NIA and jail authorities That is what I feelrdquo The National Investigation Agency apparently didnrsquot seek Fr Swamyrsquos custody but kept opposing his bailFr Swamy at Holy Family HospitalHope for truth to come out soon ArchbishopArchbishop of Bombay Cardinal Oswald Gracias condoled the death of Fr Swamy Calling his arrest over alleged Maoist links ldquovery painfulrdquo he said in a statement ldquoFr Stanrsquos case did not even come up for hearing We were eagerly waiting for the case to be taken up and the truth to come outrdquo He added ldquoI witnessed his dedication to the exploited tribals This work had its own challenges but Fr Stan worked singlemindedly for the poorrdquolsquoIs it wrong to be rightrsquo asks AOCCMelwyn Fernandes Secretary of the Association of Concerned Catholics AOCC touched upon the late priestrsquos work for the downtrodden and said he was ldquoimplicated with no substantiation and with a vengeance and perhaps political vendettardquo He said ldquoThe lamp of equality and dignity that Fr Stan has ignited in many of us to fight the battle of righteousness till the very last breath shall never cease to enlighten and brighten our souls and minds to live a life of dignity whoever may be in authorityrdquoFr Frazer Mascarenhas Fr Stanrsquos close friendAIKS says lsquocustodial killingrsquoThe All India Kisan Sabha termed the death ldquocustodial killingrdquo and demanded ldquoimmediate release of all political prisonersrdquo It said in a statement ldquoThe NIA working under the instructions of the Narendra Modi government had obstructed supply of essential medical support to Father Swamy on several occasions in the past as well and it had opposed his shifting to a hospital until the last momentrdquomdashWith inputs from Somita PalThe painful journey of Fr Stanrsquos last monthsFr Stan Swamy was arrested in October last year for his alleged role in the 2018 BhimaKoregaon violence and Maoist links was slapped with charges under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA His repeated attempts to secure bail under health grounds didnrsquot succeed till his death on Monday Herersquos a timeline of his struggleMelwyn Fernandes secretary of the Association of Concerned CatholicsAugust 22 2018 Named in the Pune police FIR on BhimaKoregaon violenceJanuary 25 2020 NIA takes over case after MVA forms government in MaharashtraOctober 8 2020 Arrested by NIA sent to Taloja jailOctober 19 Moves interim medical bail NIA says no merit in Swamyrsquos requestOctober 23 His interim medical plea is rejected by special NIA courtNovember 6 Swamy moves court for straw and a sipper saying he has Parkinsonrsquos prompting scores of citizens to send straws and sippers to the sippers to the Taloja jail which refuses to hand over even one to Fr StanCardinal Oswald Gracias Archbishop of BombayDecember 4 Swamy finally given straw and sipper after court orderFebruary 26 2021 Swamy files another bail plea citing his age and failing healthMarch 22 Court rejects bail says he tried to ldquooverpower the governmentrdquoApril 26 Swamy moves Bombay HCMay 15 Swamy develops fever in jailMay 28 Court orders govt to shift him to private hospitalMay 30 Tests positive for Covid19 at Holy Family hospitalMay 31 His lawyer says he was taken to JJ hospital thrice in 10 days despite Covid19 symptoms but was never tested Taloj jail chief says he had no symptomsJune 17 HC allows hospital stayJuly 2 Swamy challenges charges HC extends hospital stayJuly 4 Suffers cardiac arrest put on ventilator dies next day