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Notorious Christian pastor with Maoist links and accused of instigating Bhima Khoregaon riots dies at 84

Father Stanislaus Lourduswamy popularly known as Stan Swamy died in a hospital in Mumbai on Monday (July 5) ahead of his bail hearing. He was put on ventilator support after his health deteriorated on Sunday.

Doctors had informed the Bombay High Court that Stan Swamy breathed his last at 1:30 PM. The Bombay High Court had on July 3 said that Stan Swamy can stay in the hospital till July 6.

Stan Swamy was arrested on October 28, 2020 by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) after his involvement in the Bhima Khoregaon clashes was unearthed. He was earlier arrested in June 2018 in Ranchi on similar accusations

The Bhima Khoregaon – Elgar Parishad case refers to the inflammatory and seditious speeches made by left wing ‘intellectuals’ and ‘activists’ to create unrest which led to violent clashes.

It was found that he and his co-accused were members of frontal organizations working on behalf of the banned CPI (Maoists). He was slapped with the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act which imposes stringent bars on the grant of bail.

Swamy, who claims to be suffering from several ailments, including Parkinson’s disease, had moved the Bombay High Court earlier this year through his advocate Mihir Desai, seeking medical treatment and interim bail on health grounds. Last month, the NIA had filed an affidavit before the HC opposing Swamy’s bail plea. It had said there did not exist a “conclusive proof” of his medical ailments. The NIA alleged that Swamy was a Maoist, who had hatched a conspiracy to create unrest in the country.

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