The
Hindu: Cuttack: Tuesday, 29 September 2015.
Expressing
concern over spurt in attacks on activists in the State, RTI activists under
the banner ‘Youth Social Workers’ have demanded a crime branch enquiry into the
brutal attack on disabled RTI activist Kesab Mahakud of Nayagarh district.
Currently
undergoing treatment at SCB medical college and hospital here, Mr. Mahakud on
Monday alleged that the September 22 attack on him was designed by the local
police. A seasoned RTI activist, Mr. Mahakud earned the ire of police when he
sought information through RTI Act from Nayagarh district police on the
November 2014-dacoity in Darpanarayanpur in which gold and silver ornaments
weighing about 40 kg were taken away.
Although, the
police solved the case, it was alleged that a major chunk of recovered stolen
items were pocketed by the policemen. “Soon after I made the RTI enquiry, the
police turned vindictive,” Mr. Mahakud alleges adding that he was falsely
booked and arrested on August 22 this year registering a case under the
provision of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
After he was
released on bail in the first week of September, Mr. Mahakud had received
several threatening calls and on September 22 evening, he was brutally attacked
by a group of masked men near the Bolgada bus stand. Mr. Mahakud, who is
handicapped, has sustained fractures in his legs and the only hand in the
attack.
Condemning
the attack, social workers here have demanded proper protection to the RTI
activists and demanded crime branch enquiry into the attack.
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