Ban on Thangadh Dalits' killing inquiry report.

Times of India: Rajkot: Tuesday, February 2, 2016.

The state government feels that the disclosure of an inquiry report into killing of three Dalit youths in police firing in Thangadh town of Surendranagar in 2012 may harm sovereignty and integrity of the country and incite hatred among sections of the society.

This was the reason given by the state home department while rejecting a Right to Information (RTI) application to provide inquiry report prepared by principal secretary, social justi ce and empowerment department Sanjay Prasad, with regard to the incidents. The report has not been made public even after three-years of horrifying incident. Top CommentTime is up for people to carry Oxyygen cylindersAppa Durai

On intervening night of September 22 and 23, in 2012, three Dalit youths Pankaj Sumra (16), Mehul Rathod (17) and Prakash Parmar (26) were killed in police firing in Thangadh town.The police had fired while trying to control a clash between people of two communities. After the incident, state government had asked Prasad to conduct an inquiry . He had submitted the report to government on May 1, 2013. RTI and Dalit rights activist Kirit Rathod had filed an RTI application in January 2013 seeking copy of Prasad's inquiry report but was denied. He then approached the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) demanding copy of Prasad's report last year. The GIC had directed the home department to provide details of the report except for those that are exempted under RTI Act.

However, home department invoked section 8 (1) (a) and (c) of RTI Act to deny the inquiry report under RTI plea. Under these sections, the government shall be under no obligation to give any information that would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security , strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence. And disclosure of which would cause a breach of privilege of Parliament or the State Legislature.

"Government is trying to shield accused involved in the killing of dalit youth by not making this inquiry report public. Dalits have always kept their faith in constitution and never resorted to violence," Rathod said. "Moreover, three FIRs were filled by kin of three dalit youths but chargesheet has been filed in only one case. This shows lax attitude of police in probing the murders," Rathod added.