The death of Father Stan Swamy will continue to cast a cloud on India’s human rights record, said UN human rights expert Mary Lawlor. Arrested under the UAPA and in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Bhima Koregaon case in October 2020, Father Swamy, 84, died in a Mumbai hospital on July while his advocate was arguing the Jesuit priest be released on bail.

Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights, said in her statement released on Thursday that defenders of human rights should not be put behind bars under the flimsiest of excuses. She demanded that all others arrested along with Father Swamy be released immediately as others who have been put behind bars without sufficient legal basis.

India has rejected international criticism over the handling of Stan Swamy’s case and has highlighted its commitment to human rights, their promotion and protection. In a terse statement in the face of international condemnation and widespread social media anger at the Modi government, the Ministry of External Affairs said Stan Swamy was arrested and detained by the National Investigation Agency on the back of the specific charges against him and that he had legal recourse and pointed out that the courts had been rejected by the courts, and that the government had nothing to do with it.

Father Stan was arrested on October 8, 2020 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which alleged that the priest had Maoist connections and was working for the Communist Party of India (Maoist). In his defence, Swamy said evidence against him was fabricated and that he never conspired to foment violence.

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Stan Swamy, who had been suffering from Parkinson’s disease, had been in Taloja Central Jail since October 9, 2020, after his arrest from his Bagaicha residence in Namkum near Ranchi on October 8 by the NIA.

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The 83-year-old tribal rights activist Stan Swamy has finally been provided with a sipper, straw and winter clothes in Taloja jail nearly a month after his request. Swamy was arrested in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence. Swamy had asked for a sipper and straw in jail citing Parkinson’s disease due to which he was unable to hold the glass of water.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) had previously told the court they do not have a sipper and a straw when Swamy had requested for it. It added that there was no question of returning these items to Swamy since the agency never seized them from him in the first place. Swamy’s lawyer has confirmed that authorities have finally provided him with a sipper and straw in addition to winter clothes. He added that authorities are yet to submit a report in this regard as directed by the court last week.

The 83-year-old activist,who suffers from several health ailments , was arrested in October for his alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon case. In another development. Swamy on Friday moved a plea before a special court asking for an opportunity to be heard in case a decision is taken on his transfer to another jail.

Swamy’s lawyer Sharif Shaikh told the court that they have learnt that Swamy might be transferred to another jail in the city. The court has directed SP of Taloja jail to file a reply on the plea. Swamy is lodged in the jail with nine others accused in the case.

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Meanwhile, Varvara Rao, another activist accused in Bhima Koregaon case, will remain in Nanavati Hospital till December 15 as directed by Bombay High court. His wife said the family is happy with his progress. However, they will have to study the report before filing a bail petition on medical grounds.

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