Accident or murder?

[ganpat1956]

RTI activist found bleeding near Jnana Bharati dies of his wounds

As reported by : Debi Prasad Sarangi in Bangalore mirror
Posted On Wednesday, April 08, 2009 at 12:44:16 AM

In a shocking incident, an RTI activist who had succeeded in saving government property worth crores of rupees from being encroached by land sharks died under mysterious circumstances near Bangalore University’s Jnana Bharathi campus on Monday night. The man has been identified as 48-year-old Venkatesh, a resident of Hosahalli in Vijayanagar.

He was found lying near Papireddypalya Circle around 9 pm with injuries on the head. Passers-by, who saw him bleeding, shifted him to a private hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. As Venkatesh and his two-wheeler were found on the road in Kamakshipalya traffic limits, the traffic cops suspected him to be a victim of a road accident. But the bike did not have any damage. His body was sent to Victoria Hospital for autopsy and that is where the case took an intriguing turn.

The doctors who conducted the post mortem refused to buy the police theory of road accident and said the death had been caused because of an assault. “There were two L-shaped injury marks on the back of his head and it suggested that sharp-edged weapons had been used to attack him. These were deep-cut injuries,” said sources in Victoria Hospital.

Though the hospital is yet to give its report, the preliminary observations and inferences have not only shocked the family but have also left the police head honchos baffled. “It looks like a killing for vengeance, we will investigate further,” a police officer said. The officer who is reconstructing the sequence of events that resulted in murder said: “Venkatesh was returning on his two-wheeler after collecting rent from his tenant when he was intercepted by the gang. They assaulted him and escaped. While he was lying on the road, two persons shifted him to Hosmat.”

The police have now begun to dig deep into Venkatesh’s activities and the threats he had received. According to close friends of Venkatesh, one of the motives behind his murder could be crusade against land sharks. “He was using RTI to ferret information pertaining to encroachments and was filing cases against land sharks in the courts and Lok Ayukta’s office. This had angered a lot of people,” one of his friends said. In fact, sometime ago he had made a representation to the Jnana Bharathi police stating that there was a threat to his life.

Six months ago, Venkatesh had been instrumental in saving BDA property worth Rs 35 crore. He had obtained documents from BDA by applying the RTI Act to prove the actual ownership. Subsequently, the property was recovered. Similarly, he was trying to save a huge tract of land near Srigandhakaval from being occupied by private parties. (Inputs from Manjunath Sharma)

Source: Accident or murder? , News - City - Bangalore Mirror,Bangalore Mirror

[ganpat1956]

The Mahithi Hakku Adyayana Kendra (RTI Study Centre) Bangalore while condemning the dastardly attack , has demanded that the State Government and Police take immediate action to apprehend the culprits and bring them to Justice .

They have also called for a meeting of all RTI activists on 11.04.2009 at their Vijayanagar office to discuss and plan the future course of action in this matter.

Various RTI activists across the country have already started sending emails to the Governor and the Commissioner of Police expressing their shock and demanding immediate action.

[Atul Patankar]

Really shocking news.

[karira]

[Atul Patankar]

As reported at deccanherald.com on Sept 7, 2009

The City police nabbed a rowdy sheeter in connection with the murder of an RTI activist who had sought information about encroachment on a BBMP land near Jnanabharathi and had also filed an application with the Lokayukta.
Police said Lohith Raj alias TC Raj, 33 years, was arrested in connection with the murder of RTI activist Venkatesh of Eeranapalya.

The murder was executed as Venkatesh had launched a movement to save the BBMP land from the encroachment and had lodged complaints with the police, BBMP and the BDA.

On the fateful night of April this year, Venkatesh was returning home on his bike when he was intercepted and was murdered. To misguide the police, the assailants threw him on the road to make the case look like an accident. However, the post-mortem report revealed it a case of murder.

A hunt was launched for the murderer. The police nabbed Lohith Raj near Bidadi. Lohith Raj is a resident of Veeraiyanapalya. There were other six warrants against him.

Source: Rowdy-sheeter nabbed for RTI activist’s murder

[Atul Patankar]

Colonel Kurup sir, in What happens if a RTI Applicant passes away before getting the PIO's reply ? expressed his worry as

If an applicant seek a very inconvenient information which cannot be divulged under any circumstances and the applicant is beyond "sale " the one and only choice left in case the PIO does not want to provide the information is to " KILL " tha pplicant so that his application become defunct

It seems the imaginary scenario has played out in real life!

[debnanda]

No, the RTI application on the subject should continue by the legal heirs of the person.

[Anand nathani]

this indicates it is murder.Although he was recieving threatning calls, but still he continued to work.this shows how brave he was.
i salute him for his bravery,may his soul rest in peace.
Anand nathani

[virtualmukesh]

Say,
I have applied for some information with all necessary formalities and dies.

Now its PIO 's obligation to provide me the information , how will he/she know that i am no more?

So once it is applied, the information has to be provided, and let the followers/heirs do, what they want to do with the information . On way of process of formalities it can be reveled that the said applicant has died and yes/no, as a followers/heirs, you want/do not want the process to continue
?

[karira]

Even if the applicant dies, the PIO will provide the information .

But there will be no possibility of First or Second Appeals.