12 RTI activists killed; report calls them 'sitting ducks'
Friday September 02, 2011 06:49:59 PM,
IANS
|
New
Delhi: At least 12 Right to Information (RTI)
activists have been killed in the line of duty since last year -
the latest victim being Shehla Masood of Bhopal whose death has
raised a huge furore - a report said Friday.
Titled 'RTI Activists: Sitting ducks of India', the report by the
Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) said that from Jan 2010 to
Aug 2011, at least 12 activists including Masood were killed for
seeking information to "promote transparency and accountability in
the working of every public authority" in India.
Anti-corruption campaigner Masood was shot in the neck in her car
outside her home in the Koh-e-Fiza area of Bhopal Aug 16 morning.
Her murder shocked Madhya Pradesh and RTI activists across India.
Home Minister P. Chidambaram hinted at a Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) probe into her murder.
"Even a policeman (or auxilliary to the police) could not escape
death for seeking information under the Right to Information Act,
2005. On July 25, 2010, Babbu Singh of Uttar Pradesh Home Guard
was killed allegedly for seeking information about government
funds and work done by his village Pradhan at Katghar village in
Uttar Pradesh," Suhas Chakma of ACHR said.
"Many face serious physical assaults on a regular basis. Those who
seek information from their village panchayat and other local
administration also face social ostracisation. Attacks on RTI
activists do not make news (anymore)," he added.
According to Chakma, RTI activists are among the most vulnerable
human rights defenders.
The report recommends that the government should ammend the RTI
Act and a separate chapter on protection of those seeking
information should be inserted.
|
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top
Stories |
Parliament stalled over Gujarat Lokayukta issue
Both houses of parliament were disrupted Friday with the
opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanding the recall of
Gujarat Governor Kamla Beniwal for appointing a Lokayukta without
consulting the
»
Gujarat governor, government on collision course on Lokayukt
BJP asks president to intervene in Gujarat Lokayukta issue |
|
Most
Read |

Treat poor free, apex court tells 10 Delhi
hospitals
The Supreme Court Thursday directed 10
multi-specialty private hospitals in the national capital to
provide free treatment to poor patients and recover the cost from
sponsorship and endowments.
» |
Five farmers commit suicide in Vidarbha
With five cotton growers committing suicide Thursday, a total of
507 farmers have killed themselves during 2011 alone in Vidarbha
region of Maharashtra, an NGO fighting for farmers' rights said
Friday.
The dead were identified as Mohan Raut from Ghazipur in Yavatmal
district, Raju Tembhare from Sakur in Yavatmal district »
|
|
News Pick |
How to Make Lokpal Bill Effective – The Debate Continues
How to make Lokpal Bill effective was
the theme of a debate competition for college students organized
by a NGO ‘Nandini Voice
»
|
CBI raids Lok Sabha Speaker's secretary
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Friday carried out raids at the houses of A.P. Pathak, secretary
to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, in connection with a graft case
against him. "A disproportionate
»
|
Notice to Delhi government on panel to examine school fee hike
The Delhi High Court Friday issued
notice to the Delhi government on an application seeking immediate
setting up of a court-mandated panel to audit the accounts of
private schools
»
|
Gutka, paan masala are banned food in new guidelines
Chewing tobacco, like gutka and paan masala, has been included
among banned "food products" in the government's new food safety
guidelines. The move has been welcomed by health activists. Coming
close on »
|
|
Picture of the Day |
 |
The 27th of
Ramadan (August 26, 2011 this year), "Laylet al-Qadr" (Night
of Power), is one of the holiest nights of the Islamic
calendar, the night when the Quran began to be revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). Millions from around the
world visit the Grand Mosque in Makkah from all over the world
and pray over the night. |
|
|
|