Outrage over Father Stan Swamy’s death, protests held at several places

Protests were held at several places in the country over the custodial death of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy.

Swamy, 84, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, died at a Mumbai hospital on Monday afternoon. He was waiting for interim bail on medical grounds in the case. (PTI)

His funeral was held at the St Peters church, Bandra, Mumbai. Only 20 people were allowed due to Covid-19 related restrictions. (Express photo)

Protests were held in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.

Tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, who was arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case, died in custody at the age of 84 in Mumbai. Swamy was arrested from Ranchi on October 8 last year and was lodged in Taloja central jail. He tested positive for Covid-19 on May 30.

Those protesting said that Father Stan Swamy's death would not go in vain and their protests would continue would continue to ensure the Supreme Court took note and prevented others in the Elgar Parishad case from languishing in jail without a speedy trial. In Pic: Protest in Kolkata. (PTI)

Meanwhile, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) has also started an online petition demanding a judicial inquiry into the “reasons for the deterioration of health” of tribal rights activists. (PTI)