Fr Stan Swamy, Elgar Parishad Case Accused Dies, Was On Ventilator Support After His Health Deteriorated

Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old octogenarian tribal activist died on July 5, following prolonged illness. According to details by Live Law, the activist breathed his last at 1.30 pm on July 5. The news of his death was confirmed by Swamy's counsel who informed the Bombay High Court. Earlier in the day, his lawyer Mihir Desai had informed that the health condition of the tribal rights activist continues to be critical. Till late on July 4, Swamy was on ventilator support, the senior counsel told PTI. Every possible effort must be made to provide medical care and treatment to Stan Swamy, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had ordered the Maharashtra government on July 4. Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old tribal rights activist was jailed under the stringent UAPA charges following his arrest last October. National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also sought a report on his condition following his allegation of being denied medical facility in Navi Mumbai's Taloja jail where he was lodged. Swamy was a Jesuit priest who suffered from Parkinson's disease. Swamy along with his co-accused, had been charged by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) as being members of frontal organisations working on behalf of the banned CPI (Maoists) & was named in the 2017 Elgar-Parishad case. Last month, the NIA opposed his bail plea citing Lack of "conclusive proof" of his medical ailments. The Elgar Parishad case is related to inflammatory speeches allegedly made at a Pune conclave on December 31, 2017, which, the police claims, triggered violence the next day near the Bhima-Koregaon war memorial on the city's outskirts.