By
Satyaki Paul
On June 02, 2021 renowned tribal activist Father Stan Swamy passed away at a private hospital in Mumbai. On October 07, 2021 he was arrested in the Elgar Parishad—Bhima Koregaon case wherein NIA claimed that he had Maoist links. From May 30, 2021 he was hospitalised under the directives of Bombay High Court.
Father Stan Swamy was a Jesuit priest and a tribal rights activist based in Jharkhand. He had worked in the state for over 50 years on various issues related to the adivasi communities. His activism was mainly centred on jal, jungle and jameen i.e., land, forest and labour rights. This includes questioning the non-implementation of the Vth Schedule of the Constitution, which stipulated setting up of a Tribes Advisory Council with affiliates solely of the adivasi community for their protection, well-being and development in the state of Jharkhand.
Father Swamy’s arrest under UAPA where he was linked to an outbreak of deadly caste-based violence in 2018 in the state of Maharashtra i.e., Bhima-Koregaon incidence. Around 15 more individuals, including poets, lawyers, activists and writers were also arrested under same provisions. They were charged with having association with Maoists and were plotting to kill PM Modi. In response to such claims, Father Swamy and others vehemently denied such statements.
However, later it was exposed in this year that, a US digital analyst found that a hacker had used software to plant 22 forged “incriminating” files on the computer of one of the accused, which the police then used as evidence to arrest Father Swamy and others.
In due course, Father Swamy had filed a public interest petition (PIL) in the High Court against the state, asking for all such undertrial prisoners to be released on a personal bond, and the conduct of a speedy trial. He had also sought the appointment of a judicial commission to investigate the reasons for delays in the trial process.However, no heed was given to such pleas as most of the executives and judges were busy in their own pursuits.
In spite ofFather Swamy’s weak condition from Parkinson’s disease, which worsened after he contracted COVID19 in prison, the court and NIA repetitively denied him pre-trial bail.A case as disgraceful as this may yet give the necessary clarity and allow the citizens to see where we have landed now. There are many “claques” who will still not be able to see this fall. Britishers used the divide and rule policy, and in current context numerous attempts are being made to divide India on the lines of caste, religion, etc. Thus, every attempt is being made to break the nation, to divide between “them” and “us”. What you will believe is solely up to you. But until and unless our society accepts that polarisation is jaded, our country will continue to bleed.
Currently, after passing away of Father Stan Swamy. A statement was issued by family members and friends of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case. In this context, they have called the death of Father Stan Swamy “an institutional murder”.Furthermore, they have added that that they fear the health and lives of others lodged in jail. In consonance with above statement Prashant Bhushan opined that it was “nothing less than murder by the state of one of the gentlest and kindest men I have known. Unfortunately, our judicial system is also complicit in this”.
The author works as a Ph.D. Research Scholar at the Department of Anthropology, University of Calcutta, and the co-author of the book Anthropology For All (2021).