RTI activist injured in attack

Times of India: Allahabad: Sunday, December 21, 2014.

An RTI activist and two of his associates were injured in an attack in Payagpur on Saturday. A case had been registered against 11 persons, including village development officer (VDO) and gram pradhan.

Ghanshyam Goswami (40), a resident of Manikpur village in Payagpur sought information about construction of road in his village under RTI Act. He and came to know about the alleged scams in construction and complained to the district magistrate.

The district magistrate formed a team to probe into the matter. The team was led by district panchayati raj adhikari. On Friday, the team reached the village for investigations and recorded the statements of the villagers. Its members also spoke to Ghanshyam.

After the team left, Ghanshyam was attacked with rods and sticks. His friends Vindheshwari and Rampal were also injured when they tried to save Ghanshyam. They were admitted at CHC Payagpur. The doctors referred them to the district hospital in Bahraich.

A case under Section 147, 148, 149, 323 and 307 has been registered against 11 persons, including VDO Dharmendra Kumar and gram pradhan Ajay Kumar.