The Hindu: Kerala: Monday, February
27, 2017.
An attempt to
seek information under the Right to Information Act has become a nightmare for
Shibin Thomas, a BSF constable, hailing from Alappuzha. The move has resulted
in unpleasant reactions from his superiors, going to the extent of a threat to
life, according to his kin.
Mr. Shibin
had been working with BSF for over a decade, his father Thomas John told The
Hindu. While working with the 41st battalion in West Bengal in December, 2015,
he tried to get information under the Right to Information Act on the
facilities available to his cadre as several benefits were reportedly being
denied. It apparently angered senior officials.
Instead of
providing the required information which was sought through proper channels, he
was dismissed from service on the basis of certain charges which were framed
against him.
He appealed
against the order to the Prime Minister and tried to get justice through
judicial channels. He won the appeal, got reinstated, and was inducted into another
battalion a year later.
Simultaneously,
an order was issued by the authorities to probe the matter.
Mr. John said
his son was harassed by the officials at the new battalion where the
investigation was being conducted. Mr. Shibin was recently asked to sign a
document which reportedly was intended to save the senior officials who were
said to have ill-treated him.
When he
refused to sign it, a top official threatened to shoot him to death, Mr. John
said, quoting his son. The constable was allegedly not being allowed to
communicate directly on mobile phone with his parents during the past few days.
Mr. John said
his son had told him that he was housed in a dark room under deplorable
conditions. The matter was being taken up with the authorities concerned,
including the Prime Minister and Chief Minister, the worried father said.
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