Times of India: Surat: Thursday, February 04, 2016.
An RTI
activist, Romel Sutariya, was allegedly thrashed by a group of unidentified
persons outside mines and mineral department office in Vyara town of in Tapi
district on Tuesday. Sutariya was visiting the office to get update on his
pending RTI applications.
After meeting
the geologist in the office, when Sutariya was going to collector office for
hearing in a complaint he had filed in illegal mining case, he was attacked by
unknown persons.
Police has
registered a complaint and started investigation. They have also got CCTV
footage of the incident and attempts are being made to identify persons
involved in the attack. Sutariya suffered minor injuries and was given first
aid treatment at a hospital.
Sutariya has
lodged complaint with Vyara police. Police has registered FIR against group of
unidentified persons under Indian Penal Code sections 323 (voluntarily causing
hurt) and 143 (unlawful assembly).
"I came
out of the geologist's office and walking on my way to collector office when
the group attacked. I don't know any of them but police have got some CCTV
footages. I believe they targeted me for my RTI applications against illegal
mining," said Sutariya.
"I have
filed several RTI pleas in government departments in Tapi district to expose illegal
mining. These mines does not have required approvals from all the government
mainly environment clearance," he added.
"Police
have registered the complaint and attempts are on to identify those involved in
the attack. Some CCTV footages have been recovered from around the place of
attack," said A S Motavar, police sub inspector, Vyara.
.JPG)
.JPG)
