“Whatever happens to me, I would like to be with my own,” Fr. Stan Swamy had told the Bombay High Court in a hearing in late May 2021, as he requested the judiciary for bail and permission to go back to his hometown in Jharkhand.
Stan Swamy, an 84 years old Jesuit priest, tribal rights activist and a UAPA undertrial in the Elgar Parishad case who passed away earlier today in judicial custody had informed the court on multiple occasions in the last nine months about his fast deteriorating health as he struggled with Parkinson’s Disease. His untimely demise amidst consistent pleas from his sides and from rights organisations for his release and better medical treatment has invoked sadness and anguish among the masses.
People have taken to various social media platforms to express their collective grief, calling the loss of an individual who the very end of his life fought for the rights of those who occupy the margins of our society—’a national tragedy’.
Shocked to learn about the demise of Father Stan Swamy. He dedicated his life working for tribal rights. I had strongly opposed his arrest & incarceration. The Union Govt should be answerable for absolute apathy & non provision of timely medical services, leading to his death.
— Hemant Soren (@HemantSorenJMM) July 5, 2021
Deeply saddened by the passing of Fr. Stan Swamy. Unjustifiable that a man who fought all through his life for our society's most downtrodden, had to die in custody. Such travesty of justice should have no place in our democracy. Heartfelt condolences!
— Pinarayi Vijayan (@vijayanpinarayi) July 5, 2021
This is soul-shattering. Father Stan died fighting for BAIL in a shamefully fabricated UAPA case. He will always remain an unwavering beacon of resistance and hope. THAT cannot be erased by the dark powers. Down with fascism. Down with UAPA. https://t.co/uxeZ64189o
— Safoora Zargar (@SafooraZargar) July 5, 2021
This is murder! Nothing short of it justifies the pain and agony father #StanSwamy was made to undergo!
Horrific and inhumane. What justification will be given for this barbaric cruelty!
The blood is on the Government's hands!
— N Sai Balaji | ఎన్ సాయి బాలాజీ (@nsaibalaji) July 5, 2021
The news from #India today is devastating. Human Rights Defender & Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy has died in custody, nine months after his arrest on false charges of terrorism. Jailing HRDs is inexcusable. He explains his work here: https://t.co/kKPhM6IaHu pic.twitter.com/YoEpst0ol2
— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) July 5, 2021
The tweets are also representative of the widespread collective anger at the BJP ruled union government that has been hounding and murdering socio-political rights activists, writers, and journalists.
Fr Stan Swamy shall never die. He will live in our hearts as a hero, the brave dissenter who stood against the fascist Modi government at the cost of his life.
Modi & Shah have Fr. Stan Swamy's blood on their hands. The country will never forgive them. #StanSwamy
— Jignesh Mevani (@jigneshmevani80) July 5, 2021
What did Stan Swamy want that made him such a dire threat to the Modi government that it had to imprison him under a draconian anti-terrorist law? All he wanted was for Adivasis to be able to enjoy all their constitutional rights, including right to their land.
— pamela philipose (@pamelaphilipose) July 5, 2021
It’s a Cold-Blooded Murder by Narendra Modi & BJP Government.
Father Stan Swamy Lost his Life because of Modi’s Arrogance,Blatant Misuse & abuse of power.
I Feel shame that our judiciary has Failed To uphold our constitutional,
Democratical values.We Must hang our heads in shame.— Ak_official ✊🏼 (@kakilan4) July 5, 2021
Many Twitter users including leaders of opposition political parties have questioned the judiciary that consistently denied Stan Swamy’s bails petitions and sided itself with the State.
India is witnessing judicial farce over and over. Stan Swamy dies during yet another bail hearing. Natasha Narwal is given bail after her father dies of Covid-19. The entire judiciary should drown in chullu bhar paani.
— Kavita Krishnan (@kavita_krishnan) July 5, 2021
Such a brutal barefaced murder of the gentle, selfless activist #StanSwamy committed brazenly by agents of the state, by judges refusing even bail, and by media promoting falsehood. Surely this must become a turning point for change, unless justice is completely dead in India. https://t.co/1qmR4qnZNL
— Jayati Ghosh (@Jayati1609) July 5, 2021
After denying his bail, after neglecting his dying wish, after turning a blind eye to his health, the "shock" expressed by the judiciary rings hollow.
Some injustices cannot be overturned.#StanSwamy
— Apeksha Priyadarshini (@apeksha_9) July 5, 2021
Furthermore, people have rightly termed Swamy’s death as a custodial murder asking others to pay attention to the plight of other political prisoners incarcerated by the Modi regime under the draconian UAPA.
In plain terms Fr Stan Swamy's death was custodial murder. Remember that the 84-year-old activist was treated in the most inhumane manner. The revered man with Parkinson's disease was made to suffer for nearly a month by denying him a sipper to drink water — a basic need.
— Bala (@Bala__G) July 5, 2021
Read More: “UAPA must be abolished”- Kin and Comrades of Political Prisoners Demand Their Release
