A passionate crusader and a person who fought all his life for the downtrodden and the oppressed, Fr Stan Swamy, died amidst one of the most inhuman conditions exposing a huge travesty of justice and an insensitive system.
Fr Stan was picked up from his Ranchi residence on October 8, 2020, under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the Elgar Parishad case and had been put through a horrific trial. It is most unfortunate that an 84-year-old inmate who was suffering from Parkinson's disease, and who had trouble even holding a water bottle, had to make a plea before the court asking for a straw and sipper. The NIA told the court that they do not have a straw and sipper.
It is most unfortunate again that the system turned a blind eye to the fact that Fr Stan had almost lost hearing in both ears, had been operated on for hernia twice and was suffering from frequent lower abdominal pain. It’s a travesty of justice when courts failed to hear the frail pleas of an 84-year-old whose health fluctuated repeatedly. Who pleaded difficulty in carrying out his normal chores, could not eat or walk properly, whose condition was deteriorating by the day and finally had to be put on ventilator support. He failed to get medical bail or any sympathy.
Here is a man who had to spend nine months in jail under unproven charges and was made to struggle for his basic rights of living. It only reflected the forceful vengeance with which the system was operating in the background. And even as the end came, a court was still hearing a fresh petition for medical bail while he was gasping for breath.
Fr Stan's demise has left an indelible blot on a failed system and has shamed our system. The circumstances under which he endured pain and bravely stood up to these fallacious charges only brings new hope to the marginalized and those deprived of fundamental rights as citizens.
On the flip side, the development exposes the ugly side of our laws. The horrendous UAPA does not allow voices of dissent and criminalizes political protests that cause embarrassment to the State. In Fr Stan's case, the security legislation has been used to not only launch a personal assault on his right to expression but also infringed upon his civil liberties. The question now is, who killed Fr Stan? There has to be a deep introspection on this very ruthless and insensitive passage of time. There is blood on the hands of those who have subjected him to such an inhuman and torturous ordeal, and merely watched as he died in pain. They need to be identified and accountability must be fixed. Fr Stan's death calls for soul searching. If there is anything to hope for, it is the hope that the system may change and not intimidate and threaten the very existence of common citizens by trapping them with laws such as UAPA and the NSA.
