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Indian freedom fighter Stan Swamy, arrested in connection with the insurgency, dies | India News

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Stan Swamy, a jailed Jesuit priest and Indian freedom fighter, died Monday in the western Indian city of Mumbai. He was 84 years old.

A lawyer and a doctor told the High Court in Mumbai that Swamy, who had Parkinson’s disease, had died of a heart attack. The court was hearing bail applications on medical grounds after Swamy was denied bail in March.

The suspect was transferred to a private hospital from Tajola Central Jail in May after he became seriously ill. He was taken to the intensive care unit, where he was found with COVID-19.

“Stan tried to enlighten the world and get rid of injustice. The government may succeed in ruining his life, but his spirit will continue to grow,” said Jerome Stanislaus D’souza, President of the Jesuits in India.

Swamy remained innocent and said he was encouraged by his work and his writings on the injustices and hardships faced by the victims. [File: Aijaz Rahi/AFP]

In October, Swamy was arrested in the eastern part of Jharkhand after being tried under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

He was the oldest criminal suspect in India.

The state National Investigation Agency arrested him along with other human rights activists and 15 students in connection with the 2018 riots between the so-called “low” Dalits and right-wing groups.

Authorities say the detainees had ties to Maoist militants, who operate in several countries and are considered a major threat to the country.

Swamy remained innocent and refused to associate with the terrorists, saying he was ridiculed for his actions and his writings on the injustices and hardships faced by the elected groups.

His arrest sparked outrage in India, where many prominent politicians and protesters demanded his release.

The anti-terrorism law was amended in 2019 to allow the government to nominate a person as a terrorist. Police can detain people for up to six months without giving evidence, and the detainee can be detained for up to seven years.

Opponents say the law is meaningless, and accuses the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of using it to stop protesters.

In February, the government reported that approximately 6,000 people were arrested under UAPA between 2016 and 2019 and that 132 were convicted.

Taxes pour in

Swamy, who focuses on promoting and strengthening the Indian tribes in India, is known for his hard work in defending the rights of the most marginalized.

Taxes were leaked to the media on Monday.

“They deserve justice and humanity,” said Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition Congress.

“Mr. Stan Swamy has spent the rest of his life working for the bereaved and the disadvantaged,” noted historian Ramachandra Guha, calling his death a “criminal case.”

Left-wing activist Kavita Krishnan said judges who denied Swamy’s bail had “blood on their hands”.

Meanwhile, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights activists Mary Lawler said the news of Swamy’s death was a tragedy.

“Human rights defenders have no excuses,” he said in a tweet.

In January, to mark his 100-day imprisonment, Swamy wrote a letter of appreciation to all who represented him. He asserted that his confession had been obtained through torture and that his confession had been obtained through torture.

“But we still sing with the choir. A closed bird can still sing, ”he wrote.

At his last bail hearing in May, he predicted his death if he was in prison.

“I would rather die here as soon as things get better,” Swamy told the jury.

On Monday, his lawyer, Mihir Desai, told the court that Swamy did not survive with the rest of the brothers, the Live Law website said.

“The Jesuits are his only family,” Desai said.



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