Under fire over activist Stan Swamy’s death, govt says ‘detention was in accordance with law’

84-year-old Stan Swamy, who was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgaar Parishad case on October 8, died on Monday in a private hospital where he was shifted on directions of the Bombay High Court in May after his health began deteriorating.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: July 6, 2021 11:41 PM IST

4 min read

People peacefully protesting outside St. Peter's Church on Hill Road in Bandra (W) for late Jesuit priest, Stan Swamy, 84, who passed away at a hospital in Mumbai on Monday due to deteriorating health conditions. (Express photo by Pradip Das)

Amid widespread criticism over the death of tribal rights activist Stan Swamy in judicial custody, the government on Tuesday clarified that the Jesuit priest’s arrest and the subsequent rejection of his bail appeals were “strictly in accordance with the law”. It also pointed out that authorities in India “act against violations of law and not against legitimate exercise of rights”.

In an official statement, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Father Stan Swamy was arrested and detained by the National Investigation Agency following due process under law and that his bail applications were rejected by the courts because of the “specific nature of charges” against Swamy.

The 84-year-old, who was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgaar Parishad case on October 8, died on Monday in a private hospital where he was shifted on the directions of the Bombay High Court in May after his health began deteriorating.

Also Read | Stan Swamy dead: NIA didn’t seek custody but kept him behind bars, opposed his plea

Amid allegations of “an institutional murder” and “inhuman treatment” of the activist, the MEA spokesperson further said that in view of Father Stan’s ailing health, the Bombay High Court had allowed his medical treatment at a private hospital “where he was receiving all possible medical attention since May 28.” “His health and medical treatment was being closely monitored by the courts. He passed away on July 5 following medical complications,” the statement said.

The government statement further stated that India’s democratic and constitutional polity is complemented by an independent judiciary, a range of national and state level human rights commissions that monitor violations, a free media and a vibrant and vocal civil society. It asserted that India “remains committed to promotion and protection of human rights of all its citizens.”

Also Read | UN, EU human rights officials term Stan Swamy’s death as ‘devastating’

Earlier in the day, 10 Opposition leaders, including Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP’s Sharad Pawar and TMC’s Mamata Banerjee, had written to President Ram Nath Kovind expressing their deep anguish and outrage over the “inhuman treatment” of activist Stan Swamy. They had also urged the President “to direct the Government to act against those responsible for foisting false cases” on the late activist.

Body of Father Stan Swamy outside Shivaji Park Electric Crematorium after he died at a private hospital on Monday. (Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)

“We are urging your immediate intervention as the President of India to direct ‘your government’ to act against those responsible for foisting false cases on him, his continued detention in jail and inhuman treatment. They must be held accountable.” the letter read.

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The leaders said the Jesuit priest, who championed the rights and causes of the adivasis of Jharkhand, was jailed on “trumped up charges under the draconian UAPA and was sought to be linked with the Bhima Koregaon case.”

Also Read | Editorial: Stan Swamy's death in judicial custody diminishes highest institutions of the justice system

Meanwhile, the family members and friends of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case had earlier called the death of Father Stan Swamy “an institutional murder” and said that they fear the health and lives of others lodged in jail.

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