IPA Webdesk
Jailed Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Stan Swamy died of a cardiac arrest in a Mumbai hospital. He was 84. The oldest person to be accused of terrorism, he was arrested in October 2020.
Stan Swamy was suffering from Parkinson’s disease and was moved to the hospital in May after he tested positive for Covid. He suffered a massive cardiac arrest in the morning and never regained consciousness after that.
Swamy was among 15 renowned activists, academics and lawyers, who were charged under a draconian anti-terror law. He repeatedly denied the charges, saying he was being targeted for his work related to the caste and land struggles of tribals in Jharkhand state.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi condoled his death and said Stan Swamy deserved justice and humaneness.
CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechuri said he was deeply pained and outraged at the death of the Jesuit priest and demanded “accountability must be fixed for this murder in custody”.