By Matters India Reporter
Ranchi, July 7, 2022: The eastern Indian state of Jharkhand, the “karma bhumi’ (land of action) of Jesuit rights activist Father Stan Swamy, marked his first death anniversary with a march for justice, release of books, webinars, memorial Mass and tributes.
In Jamshedpur, Bishop Telesphore Bilung led the memorial Mass for Father Swamy.
In Ranchi, the state capital, civil society organizations, rights groups and political parties took out a ‘March for Justice’ and handed over a memorandum addressed to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind through the Jharkhand Governor Ramesh Bais.
Stan Swamy, 84 and suffering from Parkinson’s disease, died July 5, 2021, at Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai’s Bandra suburb while in custody, awaiting the trial to start.
Aloka Kujur of Adivasi Adhikar Manch, one of the founder members of the march formed last year, said the memorandum demanded a judicial probe into what he said was the killing of Stan Swamy.
“Through the governor, we would like to appeal to the President of India to ensure that a judicial probe is conducted on the killing of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy who was denied basic rights in Taloja Prison (Mumbai) and got infected with Covid and finally died in a private hospital,” the close associate of the Jesuit activist told reporters.
He said they want action against those responsible for the “killing” of Father Stan and clear Father Swamy’s name from the Elgaar Parishad case in which he was arrested.
The memorandum also demanded the release of all human rights activists arrested in the Elgaar Parishad and revocation of the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) cases against them. It also demanded the release of human right activist Teesta Setalvad, who was arrested in June by Gujarat police.
In Kolkata, capital of neighboring state of West Bengal, people walked for the cause for which Father Swamy lived and died.
Jesuit Father Felix Raj, vice-chancellor of St Xavier’s University, who joined the candlelight rally told reporters: “Today, we are commemorating the first death anniversary of Father Stan Swamy, a tribal activist who took the risk of sacrificing his life…. Whole world knows how he was arrested and treated in jail. Even before getting justice, he passed away. Today, we are remembering the cause for which he lived and died.
“We want to send out a message to our brothers and sisters… that we remember an apostle like him. Because he is not alone. There are many people who suffer for a greater cause. We want to send out a message that we stand for justice, we stand for peace,” he said.
The rally, held under the banners of Kolkata Nagarik Sammelan (Calcutta Citizens’ Forum) and Paschim Banga Samajik Nyay Mancha (Bengal Social Justice Platform), started from Park Circus Maidan and continued till Lady Brabourne College before turning back.
Debesh Das, a professor of JU and one of the organizers, said: “We must remember his pain and suffering. We must not forget the institutional murder.”
Speakers pointed out how a year since Father Swamy’s death was “marked by continued abuse of human rights by the State.”
Alakesh Das, CPM leader and general secretary of the Mancha, said the “murder” of Stan Swamy and the arrests of dissenters were “a warning from the State. If you are not loyal to the State, the State will come after you”.
Citing the Elgaar Parishad case, CPM leader Fuad Halim said: “For the first time in India, victims’ computers were tampered with by the State. False evidence was planted inside laptops. This is the worst form of cyber crime. Father Stan Swamy was a victim of such a false case. The State forced him to die in jail.”
Suffering from Parkinson’s disease and several other ailments, he was shifted to Bandra’s Holy Family Hospital in May 2021, where he died. He had also contracted Covid-19 while in prison.
Despite his multiple ailments and requests to the courts that he be allowed to be with his own people, Father Swamy was denied medical bail.
The Jamshedpur Jesuit Province’s writ petition is pending in the Bombay High Court to allow proceedings in the trial of Stan Swamy even after his death.
The Bangalore-based Indian Social Institute (ISI) director Father Joseph Xavier said that the Jesuit province wants Stan Swamy’s name to be cleared of the accusation labeled by NIA.
“Usually, after a person dies, the proceedings in his case are abetted in the court. We have through our legal counsel petitioned the high court in January this year to allow the trial to proceed so that Stan Swamy’s name can be cleared and it can be proved that he was falsely implicated in the case by the NIA,” said Father Xavier.
Senior advocate Mihir Desai, who has filed the petition on behalf of the Jamshedpur province, said: “The petition will come up for hearing soon.”
The Jesuit province had sought that Mumbai-based priest and Swamy’s associate Father Frazer Mascarenhas be considered his next of kin for litigation.
“Article 21 (Right to dignity) of the Constitution equally applies to deceased persons and just as the appellant (Stan Swamy) would have had a right to clear his name if he were alive, similarly those closest to him would have a right to clear his name,” Desai had said in the petition before the high court.
With inputs from telegraphindia.com