Mid-Day:Vinay Dalvi:Mumbai:Wednesday, February 29, 2012.
Home department directs police to safeguard 'honest' activists; officers ask how to identify an intangible like honesty when many activists 'misuse' the power of RTI.
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| Killed for honesty? RTI activist Satish Shetty, who took on the builder mafia in Talegaon, was slashed to death in January 2010. |
The Mumbai police have been tasked with riddling out a philosophical question: how do they define an abstract virtue such as honesty? The problem finds its origins in a circular sent by the home department yesterday that directs the men in khaki to give police protection to RTI activists, provided they are honest.
The circular comes in the light of the death of RTI activist Premkant Jha. He had sought information on the illegal construction in Virar, and was shot dead in broad daylight on Sunday while riding his motorcycle. Police are yet to make arrests in the case.
The problem is, policemen said, that given the past records of
The problem is, policemen said, that given the past records of
several RTI activists, they doubt they would be able to find many with integrity. "A lot of these activists often misuse their situation, blackmailing builders and businessmen. When they get threatened in turn, they come to us for protection.
The word 'honest' in the circular is important, and I am sure it will be difficult to identify honest RTI activists," said a police officer from Dahisar police station, Said another officer from Dharavi police station, "Many RTI activists are dishonest and crafty. I know one so-called activist who was working for the underworld and even had a murder case against him. Should we protect them too?"
The home department has sent the circular to all city police stations and has also filed an affidavit in the High Court. "Protection will be given to honest RTI activists who work for social welfare. The protection will be provided if they ask for it and after studying the situation and the perceived threat level," said a home department source. He added, "We have also simplified the process of giving protection. If some activists approach the police, they can register an FIR/NC and the police inspector on duty along with his seniors can take a quick decision."
Under attack:
But their cynicism, justified or not, doesn't detract from the fact that there is a surge in violence against activists. Jha's case is only the latest in a long list of attacks on whistleblowers in Maharashtra. Activist Ramdas Ghadegavkar was found dead in Nanded in August 2010. Datta Patil who exposed corrupt bureaucrats was killed in Ichalkaranji in May 2010. Education activist Vasant Gite was murdered in Aurangabad in April 2010. Whistleblower Arun Sawant was killed in Thane in February 2010. Satish Shetty, who took on the builder mafia in Talegaon, was slashed to death in January 2010. Scores of other activists in the state have also been assaulted or threatened.
The word 'honest' in the circular is important, and I am sure it will be difficult to identify honest RTI activists," said a police officer from Dahisar police station, Said another officer from Dharavi police station, "Many RTI activists are dishonest and crafty. I know one so-called activist who was working for the underworld and even had a murder case against him. Should we protect them too?"
The home department has sent the circular to all city police stations and has also filed an affidavit in the High Court. "Protection will be given to honest RTI activists who work for social welfare. The protection will be provided if they ask for it and after studying the situation and the perceived threat level," said a home department source. He added, "We have also simplified the process of giving protection. If some activists approach the police, they can register an FIR/NC and the police inspector on duty along with his seniors can take a quick decision."
Under attack:
But their cynicism, justified or not, doesn't detract from the fact that there is a surge in violence against activists. Jha's case is only the latest in a long list of attacks on whistleblowers in Maharashtra. Activist Ramdas Ghadegavkar was found dead in Nanded in August 2010. Datta Patil who exposed corrupt bureaucrats was killed in Ichalkaranji in May 2010. Education activist Vasant Gite was murdered in Aurangabad in April 2010. Whistleblower Arun Sawant was killed in Thane in February 2010. Satish Shetty, who took on the builder mafia in Talegaon, was slashed to death in January 2010. Scores of other activists in the state have also been assaulted or threatened.
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