The Hindu: Chennai: Thursday, June 8, 2016.
Condemning the brutal murder of RTI activist Javantraj Parasmal, the Human Rights Defenders Alert - India (HRDA) appealed to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to ensure an independent investigation of the incident.
In a statement, the organisation said Mr. Parasmal had used the RTI Act to expose corruption in government offices in matters related to construction and unauthorised power supply connections. He had obtained incriminating documents about illegal construction and used them in courts and the State Information Commission and as a result, demolition orders hed been given to two buildings in the past.
‘Creating fear’
“HRDA views this murder as an attack on a human rights defender in order to create fear among other RTI activists and silence them. The NHRC should act and put an end to attacks on RTI activists in Tamil Nadu. HRDA also urges the NHRC to order an independent and effective investigation into the incident and to initiate proceedings as per the law of the land,” the statement said.
“There were three or four attacks on him earlier. But that didn’t deter him from continuing his work,” said Vadilalji Parasmal, a relative. Javantraj was hacked to death by an armed gang in Baker’s Street at Periamet on Tuesday. “He had exposed several wrongdoings with his RTI petitions. He had nothing to gain out of it, he was well to do himself,” he said. He is survived by his three children and 53-year-old wife Ambika, who returned from Mumbai on Tuesday evening after her treatment for paralysis. “She is in shock. We hope the guilty are punished,” he said.
Investigating policemen said they were interrogating a few suspects and had also obtained Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage.
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