Father Stan Swamy Chained to Hospital Bed Even in His Final Moments? Here’s the Truth Behind the Fake Photo Going Viral on Social Media

Mumbai, July 6: A viral photo of an elderly man chained to a hospital bed is claimed to be that of Father Stan Swamy, the tribal rights activist who died on Monday in the middle of his fight for bail on health grounds. The fake photo of the activist is being widely shared on social media platforms, raising concerns of ill-treatment the priest-activist suffered even during his last moments. Father Stan Swamy Dies, Octogenarian Tribal Activist Passes Away Ahead of His Bail Hearing in Bombay HC.

According to a report by boomlive, the viral photo that is claimed to be of Stan Swamy is not him but a 92-year-old murder convict from Uttar Pradesh. The photo is going viral on social media platforms. Several users on Twitter claimed that the 84-year-activist had been chained to a hospital bed, even in his final moments. Read: NHRC Issues Notice to UP Govt over Chaining of Elderly Prisoner to Hospital Bed.

Swamy had been in custody since October 2020 in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case. The death of the activist was informed to the Bombay High Court by his counsel. Swamy was admitted to the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai after he had contracted COVID-19. The Jesuit priest had been on a ventilator since Sunday after his health worsened rapidly.

Here's the fake photo claimed to be of Father Stan Swamy:

On Monday, Dr Ian D'Souza, director of the Bandra-based private Holy Family Hospital, where Swamy was undergoing treatment, and the tribal rights activist's lawyer Mihir Desai informed a bench of the Bombay High Court of his death following cardiac arrest. The priest had worked all his life for the Adivasis, Dalits, and marginalised communities so that the poor may have a life with dignity and honour.

Swamy was arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case, a case related to inflammatory speeches made at a conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017. Police claimed that the speeches triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial located on the outskirts of western Maharashtra city. The police had claimed the conclave was organised by people with alleged Maoist links.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 06, 2021 09:01 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).