We will not let Father Stan Swamy’s death go without investigation,” said members of Mumbai Rises to Save Democracy (MSRD), a forum of several democratic rights, civil society and people’s organisations. MSRD in a press conference on Thursday cited how the only data found against Swamy is said to have been planted, and demanded the release of human rights defenders falsely charged and imprisoned in the Bhima Koregaon case. They also called for the repeal of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

Laptop compromised

Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy, popularly known as Fr Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from his home in Ranchi on October 8, 2020 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case. He died, while in judicial custody, at a private hospital where he was being treated for Covid-19 on July 5, 2021.