RTI activist who took on cops injected with poison: Condition critical
Tags: Human Rights Violation, Right to Information Act, Political Repression, Government Transparency and Corruption, State Violations
Related Issue: Right to Information, Right to Freedom of Expression, Right to Access Public Information, Right to Life, Right to Health
PUCL-Andhra Pradesh urged the immediate intervention of the National Human Rights Commission, Supreme Court, AP State Human Rights Commission, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and state Chief Minister Mr N Kiran Kumar Reddy in the incident of an RTI activist, Mr. Srinivasa Rao, who took on cops and was injected with poison and his condition is said to be critical. PUCL-AP Vice President Mr Ch. Narendra sent appeals to all of them urging them to take necessary steps so as to locate the perpetrators and prosecute them for their actions immediately.
He also demanded necessary steps to guarantee the professional and personal freedom of Right to Information Activist Mr. Srinivasa Rao, to provide medical assistance at the cost of the State for Mr. Rao and to ensure in all circumstances respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights standards and international instruments ratified by India.
He stressed the need to guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in India are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions, including judicial harassment.
According to PUCl-AP, Srinivasa Rao has been invoking the provisions of the Right to Information Act against local revenue and police officials in Markapur. Mr. Rao has been at loggerheads with police since he began seeking information from police stations under the RTI Act. He also contributes to RTI related programmes in a vernacular TV channel and was also the district convener for RTI Activists Association in the district.
On December 30, 2012, Mr. Srinivasa Rao was found lying unconscious near his office at the Court Centre in the town. It was alleged in his complaint that on that day, three men walked into his office on the pretext of discussing a case. Two of them held him back while the third injected poison in the abdomen of Rao and fled. Immediately Rao was rushed by locals to the government hospital which referred him to the district headquarters hospital in Ongole. When his condition deteriorated, Rao was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences. Doctors are yet to figure out the nature of the poison.
Background Information
Rao had highlighted many irregularities in the use of government funds and earned the wrath of local officials and contractors in the district. Last week, he had complained to the district administration about a threat to his life from a local official whose corruption he was trying to expose. He had also claimed that despite his complaint, no action was taken against the official. The incident was said to have taken place before resumption of hearing in a case in the Markapur court on Monday against him filed under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
PUCL-AP also informed about the incident to Mrs. Margaret Sekaggya, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders at the United Nations.