Times of India: Patna: Sunday, 26 September 2021.
At least 20 RTI activists have been killed in the state since 2010, including 10 in the last four years. The RTI Act had come into force in the country on June 15, 2005.
The latest victim in the state was RTI activist Bipin Agrawal, who was killed at the entrance of Harsiddhi block office in East Champaran district on Friday.
As per a Buxar-based RTI activist, Shree Prakash Rai, five activists were murdered in 2018, two in 2020 and three, including Agrawal, so far this year. He said one RTI activist-cum-former mukhiya, Praveen Jha, had died after being run over by an SUV in Banka on September 7.
“Jha was involved in exposing corruption in public distribution system. We came to know that it was a PDS dealer’s nephew who dashed Jha when he was travelling on a bike,” he said. Before Jha, another RTI activist was murdered in Motihari earlier this year, Rai said.
Last year, Pankaj Kumar Singh, who had launched a campaign against illegal sand mining in the state, was killed at Bikram in Patna on January 3. Another RTI activist, Shyam Sundar Kumar, was murdered in Begusarai on February 7, he said.
Prakash said in several cases, government departments in the state take up to two years to replies sought under RIT Act.
“When State Information Commission (SIC) was established in Bihar in 2006, replies used to come within a month. However, it takes months and, in some cases, years to get replies these days,” he said.
The activist added there was a time when government officials would become restless after receiving RTI queries raised by common people. “Things have changed now. The fear has vanished among corrupt officers. They know well that no action would be taken against them,” he said.
Another RTI activist, Ashish Ranjan, said activists are foot soldiers of democracy. “The RTI activists in the state are getting demoralised due to attacks on them and delay in getting information,” he said.
He added the SIC should be more proactive. “Gone are the days when the state government used to focus on RTI Act. It used to organise trainings for public information officers for timely delivery of information. However, nothing is being done now,” he said.
JD(U) spokesperson Dr Suheli Mehta said RTI activists should be protected. “Police should take strict action against those attacking or killing RTI activists. The state government doesn’t interfere in police works,” Mehta said.
She refused to accept that the government has lost focus on RTI. “The state government has rolled out Lok Shikayat Nivaran Adhikar Adhiniyam. It is same as RTI. SIC is an independent body and the government does not interfere with its functioning,” she added.
At least 20 RTI activists have been killed in the state since 2010, including 10 in the last four years. The RTI Act had come into force in the country on June 15, 2005.
The latest victim in the state was RTI activist Bipin Agrawal, who was killed at the entrance of Harsiddhi block office in East Champaran district on Friday.
As per a Buxar-based RTI activist, Shree Prakash Rai, five activists were murdered in 2018, two in 2020 and three, including Agrawal, so far this year. He said one RTI activist-cum-former mukhiya, Praveen Jha, had died after being run over by an SUV in Banka on September 7.
“Jha was involved in exposing corruption in public distribution system. We came to know that it was a PDS dealer’s nephew who dashed Jha when he was travelling on a bike,” he said. Before Jha, another RTI activist was murdered in Motihari earlier this year, Rai said.
Last year, Pankaj Kumar Singh, who had launched a campaign against illegal sand mining in the state, was killed at Bikram in Patna on January 3. Another RTI activist, Shyam Sundar Kumar, was murdered in Begusarai on February 7, he said.
Prakash said in several cases, government departments in the state take up to two years to replies sought under RIT Act.
“When State Information Commission (SIC) was established in Bihar in 2006, replies used to come within a month. However, it takes months and, in some cases, years to get replies these days,” he said.
The activist added there was a time when government officials would become restless after receiving RTI queries raised by common people. “Things have changed now. The fear has vanished among corrupt officers. They know well that no action would be taken against them,” he said.
Another RTI activist, Ashish Ranjan, said activists are foot soldiers of democracy. “The RTI activists in the state are getting demoralised due to attacks on them and delay in getting information,” he said.
He added the SIC should be more proactive. “Gone are the days when the state government used to focus on RTI Act. It used to organise trainings for public information officers for timely delivery of information. However, nothing is being done now,” he said.
JD(U) spokesperson Dr Suheli Mehta said RTI activists should be protected. “Police should take strict action against those attacking or killing RTI activists. The state government doesn’t interfere in police works,” Mehta said.
She refused to accept that the government has lost focus on RTI. “The state government has rolled out Lok Shikayat Nivaran Adhikar Adhiniyam. It is same as RTI. SIC is an independent body and the government does not interfere with its functioning,” she added.