Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest, renowned tribal rights activist and educator, who was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) as accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, died on Monday. He was 84.
Fr Stan Swamy suffered from various age-related illnesses and was undergoing treatment at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai. He died while waiting for an interim bail on medical grounds.
Announcing the passing away of Fr Stan Swamy, Fr Jerry Cutinha of the Jamshedpur Jesuit Province wrote in a condolence message, “With a deep sense of pain, anguish and hope we have surrendered Fr Stanislaus Lourduswami SJ (Stan Swamy) aged 84 to his eternal abode on 5 July 2021… On behalf of the Jesuits of Jamshedpur Jesuit Province I express my deepest condolences to the family members, friends, lawyers, well-wishers and all those who stood by Fr Stan Swamy and prayed for him during this moment of trial and suffering. The Soceity of Jesus, at this moment, recommits itself to take forward the legacy of Fr Stan in its mission of Justice and Reconciliation”.
According to reports, Dr Ian D'souza, director of Holy Family Hospital, Mumbai, and tribal rights activist lawyer Mihir Desai informed the Bombay High Court bench, comprising Justices S S Shinde and N J Jamadar, of his death following cardiac arrest.
Father Stan Swamy was the oldest person in India to be charged with terror-related cases. He spent several years working among the Adivasis, for the rights of the tribals in India.
