Tribal activist Stan Swamy dies while waiting for bail

Since 2020, activists from all over the country have been arrested under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, UAPA for short. Often the activists are of a minority community in India. Stan Swamy, who has been a tribal activist for decades was arrested under UAPA in October 2020 for his “alleged” part in the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence. Bhima Koregaon violence also has ties to the Communist Party of India.

Stan Swamy was aged 83 when he was arrested and was afflicted by Parkinson’s disease. He and his lawyers had appealed for bail numerous times on medical grounds but were constantly rejected. His health was on the decline. He was being treated at the private Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai following a court order on May 28. He, regrettably, passed away on July 5.

Stan Swamy's death has proven the state’s and the authority’s failure to solicitude prison inmates even when the nation is still reviving and restoring from a worldwide pandemic. Recently, bail due to medical issues has been denied to prison inmates for the reason that there is no “conclusive proof”. Stan Swamy had apprised the court that the health provisions in jail were of poor condition. The caretakers and the officials in charge were neglectful and uncaring.

Some inmates are denied bail even after their death. India’s constitution has been a precedent for multiple countries, the law was written to keep citizens from every community guarded, recent years have established evidence that the people in authority at present do not take this responsibility earnestly.

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