Even as 84-year old human rights leader Father Stan Swamy’s health has deteriorated and he has been put on a ventilator at the Holy Family hospital in Mumbai, the the civil rights group, Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM), has accused the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Central government for being "solely responsible for the sufferings of this elderly person."
In a statement, JJM said, the NIA court also played its role by denying him a bail on both medical grounds and merit", even as criticising the Maharashtra government for failing to offer "assurances" regarding support for Stan. Since early May, Stan was keeping unwell at Taloja. He had fever, cough, extreme weakness and a running stomach.
JJM said, "Even though he demonstrated severe Covid symptoms, he was not tested at Taloja. After a public outcry, he was administered Covid vaccine. He also tested positive for Covid. Ironically, he was given the vaccine when he was already severely ill at the beginning of the second wave." The High Court allowed his transfer from the Taloja jail to the Holy Family hospital on May 28.
Stan was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon case on October 8, 2020. Adivasis, Gram Sabhas, civil society, several political leaders and parties, and the Jharkhand Chief Minister have condemned Stan’s arrest and expressed support and solidarity with him, said JJM, adding, the Arsenal report, prepared on the basis of electronic evidence collected by the NIA, has "exposed how fake documents were planted into the computers of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon case."
"Without an iota of evidence against him in the case, he languished in jail, and is now battling for his life (still under arrest). Also, denying bail to an elderly and ailing person, with limited mobility and no history of violence against others, is beyond comprehension", JJM asserted.
Criticising the Modi government, JMM regretted, even now as Stan fights for his life, it continues to look away, demanding from the Central and Maharashtra governments that all necessary medical and specialised treatment should be urgently ensured for Stan; the High Court should immediately grant him bail; and he should be released and sent back to Jharkhand at the earliest.
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