Human rights activists in Jharkhand have decided to take a pledge to continue their fight for jal (water), jungle (forest) and jameen (land), along with a demand for punishment to those responsible for the “murder” of Stan Swamy, on July 5 which marks the third death anniversary of the Jesuit priest.

“On July 5, the rights activists, civil society organisations and members from Left parties and the RJD under the aegis of Shahid Father Stan Swamy Nyaya Morcha — formed in 2021 to carry forward legacy of the deceased Jesuit priest — will observe ‘Sankalp Sabhas’ across all the 24 districts to continue to raise voice for the protection of jal, jungle and jameen and raise human rights issues as raised by Father Swamy,” CPI-ML leader Bhubaneshwar Kewat told the media in Ranchi on Monday.

Aloka Kujur, a human rights activist from Ranchi, said: “We have issued leaflets to our district members which would be read out during the Sankalp Sabhas across all the districts. However, the main Sankalp Sabha would be held near Raj Bhavan in Ranchi wherein the members would take a pledge to continue the fight for human rights and put forth a memorandum addressed to the President of India Droupadi Murmu, demanding punishment for those responsible for the murder of Stan Swamy, repeal of draconian rules like UAPA and release of political prisoners lodged in jail across the country.”

“Father Stan Swamy did not die a natural death but was murdered in judicial custody. The culprits of death in judicial custody must be punished. The movement will continue till the release of political social workers who are locked in jails including Father Stan,” added Kujur.

CPI-ML leader Kewat said: “We are also trying to seek an appointment with the President in the last week of July in Delhi to personally hand over the memorandum and request her to take steps forthe release of political prisoners and human rights defenders lodged in jails across the country.”

They would also hand over the papers containing over 50,000 signatures to the President on that occasion.

Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old tribal rights activist, was accused by the National Investigation Agency of conspiring with the Maoists to overthrow the Indian government. The Parkinson’s patient was arrested in October 2020 from Namkum near Ranchi and lodged in a Mumbai jail, where he contracted Covid. He died in custody at a hospital in July 2021, after suffering a cardiac arrest, while waiting for the trial to begin.