Stan Swamy's death an institutional murder: Family, friends

Terming activist Stan Swamys death an institutional murder the family members and friends of the other accused arrested in the Elgar Parishad case said on Tuesday that they held the negligent jails indifferent courts and malicious investigating agencies responsible for itIn a statement they said it was unconscionable that someone as old as Swamy and who was suffering poor health was put in jail amid a pandemicThey also said that they feared for the lives of their family members and colleagues in jails who were facing similar injustices in jailsSwamy was arrested by the National Investigation Agency NIA from Ranchi in October 2020 under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act UAPA in connection with the Elgar Parishad case and lodged at the Taloja Central Jail in Navi MumbaiThe 84yearold died at the Holy Family Hospital where he was admitted on May 29 in Mumbai on Monday a day after he suffered a cardiac arrest and was put on ventilator supportThe Elgar Parishad case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made by some activists at a conclave held in Pune on December 31 2017 Police claim these speeches triggered violence the next day near the KoregaonBhima war memorial located on the outskirts of the city and that the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist linksWe the friends and family members of those accused in the Bhima Koregaon conspiracy case are deeply pained and shaken to the core by the loss of Father Stan Swamy This is not a natural death but the institutional murder of a gentle soul committed by an inhuman state the statement saidHaving spent his life amongst the Adivasis in Jharkhand fighting for their right to resources and lands Father Stan did not deserve to die in this manner far from his beloved Jharkhand falsely imprisoned by a vindictive state it saidEven his Covid disease was not diagnosed in jail and could only be detected after he was moved to the hospital on orders of the Bombay high court it addedSwamy was the last of the 16 people to be arrested in the Bhima Koregaon caseSuffering from Parkinsons disease he was the oldest and the frailest among those arrested the statement saidWhile we grieve at the passing away of Father Stan Swamy we unequivocally hold the negligent jails the indifferent courts and the malicious investigating agencies firmly responsible for his unfortunate death We fear for the health and lives of our family members and colleagues who are facing similar injustices in the same jails under the same unaccountable system it addedThe statement further said We continue our vigil for everyones safety and security and as Father Stan would appreciate we refuse to be silent spectators and are ready to pay the priceSwamy had said he had never been to Bhima KoregaonNIA officials had said investigations established that he was actively involved in the activities of the CPI Maoist The agency also alleged that he was in contact with conspirators to further the groups activitiesOthers arrested in connection with the Elgar Parishad case include some of Indias most respected scholars lawyers academicians and activistsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever