Rising Trend of Attacks on RTI Activists in Odisha

He had submitted RTI Application to the Public
Information Officer , Office of Soil Conservation Officer , Rayagad seeking
some information about details of watershed project like total allocation of
fund, details of expenditure, 
particulars of activities taken up etc.  undertaken in Baisingh Gram Panchayat  under Rayagada Block on 12.1.2011. After
few days on 17.1.2011, few miscreants came to his house and dragged him to
Mr. Ramesh Chandra Panda, PIO of Soil Conservation office and physically
assaulted, severely beaten up   and
abused him using slang language. The PIO asked Salman to withdraw the RTI
Application or face the dire consequence. Then they   threatened him not to file case in the
police station and kicked him out from the office.  On reaching in the house, he found his body
bleeding. Immediately, his wife took him to hospital for treatment. Having
heard about physical attack by hooligans, the doctor asked them to file an FIR
in the police station. Otherwise, he would not treat them. Then he along with
his wife went to the Police station to file an FIR against the culprits. Mr.
Rajendra Senapati, Inspector In-Charge, Rayagada Police station after going
through  the FIR behaved very
rudely  and  said that ‘why you are  using RTI. If you ask for information under
RTI, it is obvious that he or she will be beaten up. Do not use RTI. You get
out from here. I will not receive your application.”   Being failed to get his FIR registered, he
returned   to home. Being advised by
some people, he again went to the Police station to file FIR. The IIC
received the FIR and took him to the hospital for treatment.

On 18.1.2011, the Inspector-In-Charge made a telephone
at 3 PM   and asked me to come to the
police station.  I found 18 people who
had beaten up me present there. The IIC forced me to withdraw the case and
all of them also threatened me of dire consequence, if he fails to withdraw
the case.  Finding no way to fight it
out, he was forced to compromise with these people and withdraws the case.

Mr. Braja Bihari Swain, a retired Govt.
employee  of  Nayagarh District of Orissa   is the president of 11Mouza Forest
Protection Committee (an initiative by people of eleven villages for
protecting the forest) for the year 2008 and 2009.  While interacting with the people, he came
to know about a massive corruption in CAMPA fund and utilization of  Govt. Grants in Ranapur Forest Range.  He submitted RTI Application  to the PIO, office of Divisional Forest
Officer, Khurda to  know the details of
CAMPA project and fund allocated and utilized for the same. Tracing out  series of irregularities  in CAMPA project after  having gone through  the information supplied by DFO office, he
submitted  a  petition to PCCF- Aranya Bhawan,
DG-Vigilance, Govt. of Orissa, Secretary, 
Department of  Forest and
Environment and Divisional Forest officer, Khurda for an enquiry and take
legal action against the culprits. Being 
greatly disturbed and terrified by the complaint petition,  the Range-Officer, Ranpur( Abhay Jena) and
Forester, Sankhajodi Beat( Ramesh Chandra Jani) has registered a malicious
and false case of illicit tree felling 
against him and threatened   to
murder   making him  as 
co-accused with 18 professional timber mafias in Nayagarh district.   

On 16.6.2012, he had submitted RTI Application to
the PIO, office of Manupali Gram Panchayat, 
Manamunda Block of Boudh district, Odisha  seeking some information about distribution
of PDS item in his Panchayats. The PIO did not provide the information. On
20.8.2012, at Gudguda Chhak  of the
Panchayat, Sri Braja Mukunda Meher, ex-Sarapanch and his associates
attacked  Jayaram  using abusive languages and  threatened him to  withdraw 
the RTI Application. On the next day, they went to his village and
attacked his parents, ransacked his house. 
Jayaram filed the case against them in local police station,
Manamunda. But the Police did not take a action against the miscreants rather
arrested Jayaram and sent him to Jail. Jayaram released after one month and
was forced to leave the village. He has filed the case in State Human Rights
Commission, Odisha to get justice on 10.11.12. State Human Rights Commission
called for a action take report from SP, Boudh. Nothing happened.

Sri Jayant Kumar Parida ,  RTI 
Applicant  from Rajnagar
Block  of Kendra district had  submitted 
3 RTI Applications  dated
23.5.12, 28.5.12, 13.8.12 to the Public Information Officer,  office of Rajnagar Block, Kendrapara   district seeking some information about
details of  dealers of Balisahipatna
Gram Panchayat including  the quality
of PDS  communities lifted and
distributed  month-wise, surplus
quantity, number of beneficiaries under Antodaya Anna Yojana, Annapurna anna
Yojana, Details of beneficiaries  of
old pension and  widow pension  etc. Finding no information, Sri Das, made
an appeal to the First Appellate Authority to get the information. The FAA
did not hear the case. Then Second Appeal was preferred to the Odisha
Information Commission on 6.12.12. 
Hearing the case, the Commission issued direction to the PIO for
allowing the applicant to inspect the files. On 8. 10.13, when he reached I
Blok office, he faced organized attack by contractors and forced to leave the
place.  He could not get information.

Kailash , 
a  mechanic  by 
profession   was indulged to  fight 
out  corruption in various  development 
projects  going on  in his area 
y using RTI Applications.   He
had  filed several RTI Applications  in the 
office  of BDO, Deogaon,
Executive Engineer , RD,  Irrigation  seeking 
photocopy  of details of utilization
of  fund  and bill and vouchures.  The 
corrupt  officials and
contractors  threatened  him 
to withdraw RTI Application. But 
he  kept  continuity  
in pursuing RTI Applications  in
his endeavor  to  fight out 
corruption.   One 
day,  while  he was on his way to  home, a group of miscreants gheraoed  him and 
chopped off  his right   hand with 
threats  that  he 
could  never write RTI
Application in future.  Though he
filed  FIR in Deogaon police
station,   no  culprit 
was arrested. All of them got bail.  
After 6 years when  the trail
started  in the lower  court, 
he was again  threatened  to withdraw the case.  At 
last   his  family members withdrew the case.  After 
a long  treatment,  his hand 
could  not  recover. It 
remained  permanently disable.

Sri Sunil Mishra, 
resident of Indira Nagar, Berhampur had submitted RTI Applicatio to
the office of District Industries Centre 
to expose huge irregularities and corruption in that office. 
On 19.2.2014, Sri   Mishra,
was mercilessly beaten up at 1.30 PM in the office of District Industries
Centre, Berhampur of Ganjam district by   
anti-socials in collusion with officials. He lost his sense on the
spot and few people carried him to M.K.C.G Hospital.   He underwent treatment in hospital for 3 days
and got discharged on 23.2.14. As he is a patient of heart problem, his
family took him to Bangalore for proper treatment.  He has not been able to talk till yet.    He filed an FIR in local police station,
Baidyanath Pur police station on 21.2.14. The police did not take any steps.
Sri Pradip Pradhan, RTI Activist of Odisha personally met Mr. Sanjib Marik,
then Special DG of police to take action against the culprits. Nothing
happened. Sri Pradhan  filed a
complaint case on 24.2.14  in the
office of Odisha Human Rights Commission. Nothing happened.

On 1.3.14, Mangal Ray, a Dalit RTI Activist
working in Bolangir district had visited Deogaon Block to submit RTI
Application seeking information about details of road construction work
undertaken from Jarasingha RD road to Udar RD road under NREGA in 2012-13,
estimate copy,  details of expenditure
including copy of bill and vouchures etc. 
When he was filing RTI application to the PIO, the Junior Engineer of
the Block along with some hooligans and contractors entered into the office
and asked him purpose of his visit. 
Then they started beating him mercilessly with blow and fist and
forced him to withdraw the application. The officials present in the office
neither protested nor came to his rescue. The hooligans also used slang
language taking name of his caste and threatened him to leave the office. His
RTI Application was tore up into pieces. 
Sri Mangal left the office. He was so frightened that he could not
file FIR. His case was filed in Odisha
Human Rights Commission. But nothing has happened.

This is the first case of murder of RTI Activist
in Odisha. Sri Ganesh handra Panda  
had  filed series of RTI
Applications ( for example,  road work from
Thakurani Road to Bedha Bandh village)  before the office of Rangeilunda  Block 
to access information about road construction works  undertaken 
under NREGA and Phylin, Flood Damage Restoration Projects of the Govt.
As reported from various sources, huge funds allocated under FDR are being
misappropriated by the Contractors in connivance and complicity with the
Block officials. He was using RTI to expose the corruption and ensure
effective implementation of the above programmes. On 28.12.14, he was
murdered by unidentified criminals, when he was on morning walk.   The
police  arrested few people in this
case.

Sri Krupasidhu Sahu had filed several RTI
Applications to the PIO, office of Deputy Director, Agriculture, and Cuttack
seeking information about details of utilization of BGREI undertaken in Niali
block. His RTI query exposed the irregularities and misappropriation of fund
by the political powerful people.  His expose
enraged the people involved in the scam and created enmity with them. They
engaged a supari killer   who kidnapped
and murdered him on 26.1.15

Rama Chandra Mallik, RTI-User of Kotasahi Gram Panchayat
under Tangi-Choudwar Block of Cuttack district had submitted RTI to the PIO,
office of Tangi Blok seeking information about utilization of fund under Mo
Kudia Yojana and NREGA. Appending 
trouble due to  disclosure of
information under RTI,  a few  hooligans 
of political party  entered  his house, rebuked  him with slang language  and threatened  him 
to murder, if he pursues  RTI
Application. They also offered bribe of Rs. 5,000.00 to him to withdraw RTI
Application. He was threatened of murder by political touts and contractors
and forced to withdraw   RTI
Application.      

A complaint case was filed in NHRC, New Delhi (
Case No.- 265/18/3/3014) . NHRC issued direction to DG, Police to enquire
into the matter on 7.3.14. The DG, police   produced
the report on 11.5.2014.  The outcome
of the case  is not  informed y the victim.  

 Case of
threats  by a stranger

Sri Shaktipada Biswas, Kalimela of Malkangiri
district had submitted RTI application to the PIO, office of DFO, Malkangiri
seeking information about details of plantation programme undertaken and expenditure
made for the same in Kalimela area. It was reported that there was huge corruption
in plantation programme. After it, he got a threat by someone by mobile to
withdraw the application.  Then a
complaint case was filed by Pradip Pradhan, RTI Activist to the SP,
Malkangiri. Nothing happened to him.

Case 
of  life threats  and attack

He 
had  filed RTI Application dt.
21.11.14 seeking information about detail expenditure for the construction of Anganwadi House of Bhattapada GP
under Chandbali block and PDS.  After
receiving the RTI application , the affected villagers  threatened him   in front of his house by using filthy
slang language.  He ignored  and  filed appeal before First Appellate
Authority on 24.12.2014.  Apprehending the expose of corruption,
the culprits   threatened  to kill him. One day,   the 
villagers  attacked and
physically assaulted my younger brother  till he lost sense. It is noted that they
dragged his  younger brother from 108
vehicle ,  thrown him out near our village and beaten him up severely at
night (9pm). Though FIR was  filed ,
the police did not take any steps.   Then Second appeal was filed  before 
information commission. During hearing 
of Second appeal petition in In May, 2017,   the
culprits threatened him      to
withdraw the RTI application ,which is related to the  food items under Public distribution system
(PDS), within 7days.  When he refused, the culprits again attacked
him.  Then he filed second FIR  at police station, police took 5days to
register the FIR . ut astonishingly, two police officers named Dhanurjay
Munda & Ravindra Khuntia threatened him to withdraw otherwise  a counter FIR will be filed by opposite
party  and  you would e arrested soon.   The 
police  forced him  to 
file  compromise petition at the
behest  of culprits.

Case 
of  life threats  by goons of Sarapanch

On 13.7.15,
Pabitra Bhoi, a Dalit had filed RTI Application to the PIO, Office of Anlo
Gram Panchayat seeking information about allotment of houses under Indira Awas
Yojana to ascertain fact about allegation of 
irregularities  in  allotment. Photocopy of his RTI Application
was distributed to the people who were 
allotted  houses illegally. On
19.7.15,  A group  of people entered  into his house  and used abusive  language and threatened him  of dire 
consequences , unless  he
withdraws  the RTI Application. On
20.7.15, he  lodged FIR  in Niali police station and    complaint to SP, Cuttack     for inquiry 
into the matter  and action
against  the  culprits. He had  also approached  Odisha Human Rights Commission for justice.

Case 
of  physical attack  and 
attempt  to murder

Case  of
threats  of murder

On 25.4.2017, Subas  Mohapatra 
filed  a  complaint 
in Khandagiri  Police station
alleging threats  of murder received
two strangers  on the road  to withdraw case  filed against Achyut Samant  of KIIT. Subas  had filed a petition in National Green
Tribunal, Kolkatta   against  Kalinga Institute  of Social science , Patia  acquiring 18 acres  of forest land illegally after getting  the information under RTI Act. Hearing  the 
case  No. oA92/2016-EZ, the NGT
had  directed  to the 
state  Govt. to  immediately vacant  the land and undertake fencing. Sri Subas
Mohapatra  had also  filed another case  in Odisha High Court against KIIT  for violation of FCRA. ( WPC 6134/2017).
Though the police registered  the
case  but  did not 
conduct  any inquiry.

Petrol attack on Family member of Pradip Pradhan

 2-3 unknown
persons   were keeping watch on his
movement and making round near his resident since last few weeks. On 3rd May
2017, two unknown boys   attacked his sister    near the Maitri Vihar Police Out Post by
pouring a glass of petrol on her while she was returning back to home from
her working place at 8 PM. After this petrol attack, his sister shouted so
that the attacker started their motor bike and left the place instantly, else
they could have burnt her alive by putting fire on her. It is clear that they
were fully prepared to attack on Mr Pradhan. But , their plan failed as
Pradhan had not returned home  at that
time. So, they attacked his sister to make him fear and warned him not to
expose the scams in future. From this incident, it is obvious that there
conspiracy to kill Pradip Pradhan. This is cowardice & condemnable
activity of corrupt peoples.

Mr Pradhan had lodged FIR at Chandrasekharpur
Police Station to investigate the matter & immediate arrest of the
attackers. He also demanded to give justice to his sister by taking stringent
action against the culprits and all others those are mastermind of this
petrol attack on his sister. An FIR is registered by police ( Case No.161 dt.
3.5.2017 ) under section 448,326, 506 of 
IPC accordingly. A case has been filed in National Human Rights
Commission with case no. 2509/18/28/2017. A case  has also been filed  in Odisha Human Rights Commission  which is still  pending.

Case of merciless attack by BJD goons

There is huge corruption and
misappropriation of lakhs of rupees in implementation of NREGA work, Biju
Pucca Yojana in Giridipali Gram Panchayat under Odagaon Block of Nayagarh
district. RTI Activist Shri Bansidhar Nayak used RTI to expose the
corruption. He unearthed how lakhs  of
rupees has been misappropriated by preparing false Bill and vouchers. BJD
party workers, Sarapanch, and Block Chairman are involved in this corruption.
Due to his ceaseless effort to fight out corruption, they have masterminded
to organize an attack on Bansidhar Nayak. A group of 10 BJD workers mostly
anti- socials attacked his house on 8.5.17 in night at 10pm. They pelted
stones at his house and beaten up severely to Bansidhar Nayak  and his elder brother Debaraj Nayak while they
were on the way to hospital. They were  hospitalized for 10 days in Nayagarh
District Hospital. The Deogaon police 
registered the case and four culprits caught by police & sent to
jail. But interestingly, the opposite party filed counter FIR against
Bansidhar Nayak and put pressure on police to arrest him.

Case  of
police threats

On 10^th May 2017, RTI Activist Shri
Shankar Prasad Panigrahi from Balangiri 
district  received a telephone
call from 7682955014 , an unknown person 
and introduce himself as Police Officer working in SDPO , Balangir.
That unknown police officer   abused   Shankar Panigrahi , threatened to rape his
wife and murdered him in  police
encounter because he had written “Go Back 
Narayan Naik” in his facebook account and uploaded a video clippings of protests against the lower Suktel irrigation
project in 2013 & assault on protestors by Narayan Naik, the then
Balangir SDPO .  Narayan Naik is again posted as the SDPO of
Balangiri  district who had beaten up
more than 200 common peoples  during   protest against lower suktel project   under the banner of Budi Anchala Sangram
Parisad. Narayan Naik himself had beaten up journalist and social activist
Shri Amitav Patra and Lenin Kumar those were leading the protest.

Mr. Panigrahi had recorded the entire telephonic
conversation and shared with other activists via whatsapp. On 13.5.17,
Sankar had filed  FIR  in   Bolangir  police
station  seeking  investigation into the matter.  The Bolagir
Sadar police station  registered FIR no. 0155(IPC-506,507) dt.15.5.17
and the investigation by police is going on but the culprit has not been
arrested till date. A case has been filed in National Human Rights
Commission  and Odisha Human
Rights  Commission also.

Case  of
brutal attack

On 12^th May 2017, physically challenged
RTI Activist Shri Keshab Mahakud was physically assaulted and attacked  by a group of miscreants near the Sani
Mandir , Vanivihar which is stone throwing distance  from Sahid Nagar Police Station. Some days
before this incident he had asked some information under RTI which is related
to CAMPA project in Nayagarh and the DFO , Nayagarh offered Rs30,000 to
Mahakud but he refused it and insisted for the information sought by him. He
had taken decision to sit in Dharana before the resident of Shri Bijayshree
Routray, 
Hon’ble Minister, Forest & Environment and come to meet to submit the notice regarding
this matter on 12^th May 2017. The DFO , Nayagarh was present
at resident of Shri Bijayshree Routray and became angry on Mahakud and abused
him . Mr Mahakud left that place by auto rickshaw but DFO , Nayagarh followed
him  and stopped the auto rickshaw at
Sani Mandir at 8pm. He and other three hooligans forced him to sign in blank
paper by stating that he had received all information sought those are
related to CAMPA projects in Nayagarh. Mahakud refused to sign , so they
beaten him and threatened him that he would  be killed & thrown to Mahanadi river if
he would  try to sit in Dharana or try
to file complain against him for the information. Mr Mahakud shouted , so DFO
and other three hooligans left that place by their bolero as many peoples
gathered there.  Mr Mahakud filed a
complaint / FIR at 9PM in Sahid Nagar Police station but concern police
officer did not take any action immediately on this matter and  advised the victim  to come to police station tomorrow. On 13^th
May 2017 an FIR was registered by Police , case no-0214 under section
341,323,506 & 34 of IPC 1860 but the culprits are not arrested till
date.  A case has been filed in
National Human Rights Commission with case no. 2552/18/28/2017. Last
year, Sri Mahakud was seriously beaten up by hooligans for seeking
information under RTI and hospitalised for a month in S.C.B. Medical, Cuttack
for his treatment.

Case 
of  life threats

On 12.5.17, Sri Debidatta Manas Ranjan Sethy,
RTI Activist had filed RTI application to the PIO, Office of Divisional
Forest Officer, Puri seeking information about details of Salary received by
Forester, Forest Guard, salary held up and salary sanctioned etc. After
five days of submission of RTI Application, on 18.5.17. Sri Sethy
received a call from Ramakant Dash, Forest official from his Mobile no.
9668776522 . Sri Dash threatened him of withdrawing RTI Application and
chided him using slang language to murder him and throw his body into the sea,
if he pursues the RTI Application. Wife of Ramakant Dash has also
telephonically threatened to the wife of Sri Sethy. He got terribly disturbed
and frightened. He contacted N.A.Shah Ansari, RTI Activist of Konark and
appraised him about threatening call. It was decided to file FIR in Police
station. On 19.5.17, a team of RTI Activists accompanied Sri Sethy and filed
FIR in Matiapada Police station, Kumvarpada , Puri seeking inquiry into the
incident and stern Action against Sri Dash and provide security to the
family. On 24^th May
2017, Sri Pradip Pradhan & Sri Srikant Pakalhas filed a case at Odisha
Human Right Commission for justice and protection of life of Sri
Debidatta Manas Ranjan Sethy and
human rights. A case has been registered at NHRC also (case no -2684/18/12/2017).

Case  of
mercilessly beaten up by  hooligans

On 1^st May 2017, Shri
Raj Kishore Nayak had filed an RTI application to the PIO, office of the Gram
Panchayat, Badakhaladi to access the information regarding allotment of
houses under Biju Puca Yojana, list of beneficiaries and disbursement of
funds  under Biju Puca Yojana , Old Age
Pension & Widow Pension Scheme.

The newly elected Sarapanch ,
Smt. Rajashree Marandi and her contractor husband Ajaya Kumar Ghan became
disturbed and revengeful after going through RTI application of  Raj Kishore Nayak. Apprehending that it
would expose their wrong-doings and tarnish their image. So, she had made a
plan to save herself by threatening the RTI applicant through her contractor
husband Ajaya Kumar Ghan.  While
leaving the office of the Badakhaladi Gram Panchayat after filing of the RTI
application, husband of the sarapanch (Ajaya Kumar Ghan) abused the RTI
applicant in presence of the Sarapanch , Smt. Rajashree Marandi and  questioned who are you to ask information
about the activities of Grampanchayat? He also threatened to Raj Kishor
not  to enter to the Gram Panchayat
office in future and a false case  implicating  him under SC & ST ( Prevention of
atrocity)  Act  will be booked against him, if he will not
withdraw the RTI Application filed by him. 
Raj Kishor refused to withdraw the RTI application.

On 4^th May 2017, the
RTI applicant (Mr Nayak) filed a complaint before SDOP, Udala regarding this
threatening & requested to take necessary action for the protection of
his life, dignity and fundamental rights.

On 16^th May 2017,
while Raj Kishor was returning to his home, 
 about 10 numbers of
anti-socials and village youths  
engaged by Ajaya Kumar Ghan 
attacked  Raj Kishore Nayak  and beaten up black and white. He  sustained 
severe injury  and got  medical treatment  and filed 
FIR  in Kaptipada police
station. The police  received  the FIR 
but refused  to give  copy 
of FIR.  Raj kishor  filed complaint  to SDPO, Udala and SP, Mayurbhanj.   On 24^th May 2017, Raj Kishore
Nayak   filed a case at Odisha Human
Right Commission for justice and protection of his life and human rights. A
case has been registered at NHRC (Case No-2683/18/9/2017).

Case  of
Merciless attack  by hooligans

On dt.27.05.2017 , RTI Activist Babi Jena of Hantuka GP
under Puri Sadar Block of puri district was 
severely beaten up and his head profusely bleeding by BJD workers due
to his attempt to expose corruption through RTI in Hantuka Primary
Cooperative Society. In the month of April 2017, he
had filed RTI application in the office of Hantuka Primary Cooperative Society
under Puri Sadar Block seeking information about total fund sanctioned for compensation
to be paid to phailin-affected farmers and name of farmers and amount paid to
them. It is to be noted here that huge fund has been misappropriated by
President and Secretary of Society belonging to BJD, false documents has been
prepared in the name of farmers. 

Apprehending expose of corruption, President and
Secretary had earlier threatened him to murder unless he withdraws RTI
Application. On 27.5.17, two hooligans engaged by them attacked him and his
friend with weapons in a shop. Babi’s head got severely damaged. His friends
rescued him and ensure his treatment in Medical. On 29.5.17, he went to
Chandan Pur Police station to file FIR. But the police misbehaved him using
very slang language. As alleged by Babi, the police is acting as agent of BJD
party. Despite several persuasion, the police did not register Case . Rather
police asked the accused to file counter FIR and forced the victims to sign
the compromise petition. A case has been registered at Odisha Human Right
Commission for justice and protection of his life and human rights.

Case  of
harassment  and putting behind bar
implicating in false case

He  had  filed 
multiple  RTI Application  in the 
office of BDO, Brahmagiri 
and  office  of 
Inspector-in-Charge, Krustanprasad  police station  seeking information about  various issues.  To 
check  his RTI Activism,  the 
police  and Block administration  joined 
hand and hatched  a conspiracy
to arrest  him . Accordingly, Golak
Bihari Rout, Sub-inspector of Krustanprasad   police station filed an FIR on 24.1.18
against Bhakti accusing him of  his
involvement  in an event  of police station gherao. On 10.4.18,
while  he had been  to SP office, Puri  to attend first appeal  hearing 
against  the IIC,
Krustanparasad, the 
Inspector-in-Charge  himself  reached 
in the office  and arrested  Bhakti 
and forwarded  him to  jail. He spent 22 days in jail and released
in bail. On 11.5.18, he filed complaint in Odisha Human Rights Commission for
justice which is pending.

Case of Murder by hooligans

Parsuram Pradhan had filed RTI Application  to the Salebhata  Cooperative 
Society  seeking  information about huge irregularities in
paddy procurement, loan 
disbursement  etc. Earlier on his
complaint, Secretary of Salebhata Cooperative Society was arrested by Vigilance
Department and jailed. Apprehending expose of more corruption, the people involved
in Cooperative scam   murdered Parsuram
Pradhan.  The Police arrested four
persons in connection with this murder.

Case  of
Murder by Supari Killer  engaged  by  
coterie  of politicians-
bureaucrats- contractors – Mafias

Ahimanyu Panda, eminent RTI Activist  of 
Kondhamal  district was  murdered 
by  two  unidentified  goons 
at  his residence  in the 
early  morning at 7 AM  on 10^th December, 19.   He 
had  filed RTI  Applications 
submitted  to different  authorities and  complaints 
filed  ( a) to District
Superintendent  of Excise,
Phulbani  against  proposal for opening  of off Liquor shop  in Ward No. 1 ( Khata No. 106/157, Plot No.
825/1112) resulted  in closing
down  of liquor shop in Baliguda, (
b) Rs. 70 lakh scam in hostel construction work in  Sarangagada college ( allegation  against 
Ashok Panda, Contractor), ( c) complaint  filed 
to Executive Engineer, R& B, Phulbani on  huge irregularities in road  construction work  undertaken 
by R.K.D. Construction Company , (d)  Action taken  by the 
Endowment  Commission on  his complaint  against members of old Management
Committee  of Jagannath Temple,
Baliguda, subsequent  eviction of
hew   shop owners  from shops 
who had  illegally occupied
shops  for  years together, ( e)  filling of  more than 50 RTI Applications to expose PDS
Scam. His RTI expose  has  created 
enmity  with  powerful people  who 
had conspired  to  murder 
him through Supari Killer.  The
Police  has arrested  5 
people  including Supari Killer
but  not yet  conspirators  behind the attack.

Case 
of  planned  Murder 
by  Miscreants

Ranjan Kumar 
Das, a renowned RTI Activist was 
found  cold-bloodedly
murdered  by  vested interest groups  in Kendrapara  district in the night of 31^st
January 2020. This  is a planned  murder 
by vested  groups  who conspired  to murder 
him apprehending  that  their 
corruption would be exposed  by
Ranjan who  had  filed several RTI Applications  to 
various  offices.   He 
had carried out a number  of RTI
sensitive programme to  educate  the people 
about RTI Act. He  had  personally filed several RTI Applications
to different offices  and exposed  corruption 
in  construction of RD Road,
illegal  construction of  play ground 
in his  village,  illegal construction of  OTDC Building  inside Bhirakanika Sanctuary  under Mahakalapada block, illegal prawn
cultivation by private  companies,
corruption in illegal allotment  of
houses  under IAY/ PMAY, Biju Pucca
Yojana, Irregularities  in Anganwadi
Centres. He  had filed  several 
complaints   to State Vigilance,
Cuttack and Lokayukta, Odisha.   Though  the 
police  registered  FIR, But 
remained  silence without  making any 
inquiry  into  his 
murder.  It  is alleged 
that the police  is trying  to suppress the  inquiry. 

Case  of
life threats by  hooligans engaged  by top bureaucrats.

Sri Srikant Pakal , an RTI Activist  had 
filed  a complaint alleging
corruption  and misappropriation
of  funds  by 
Sri Bishnupada Sethy , IAS, the then MIC, Odisha State  Cooperative Bank  and  
presently  working  as Secretary, Dept. of Energy, Govt. of
Odisha.  The Lokayukta  has taken cognizance  of the complaint  case 
registering it  as LY No. 110/19
and issued  notice  to Sri Bishnupada Sethy. While  Sri Sethy 
has filed time petition 
for  submission of his
reply   on one  hand, he has  engaged  
middleman to  influence    Srikant  to withdraw 
the  case under  the threats of attack  . On 20.1.20, Sri Srikant Pakal  had 
filed a complaint to Deputy Commissioner  of Police, Cuttack  seeking 
an inquiry  into life-killing
threats by  miscreants engaged  by Bishnupada Sethy  .  On 10.2.2020, Sri Pakal  had 
submitted  a petition  to 
the  Director General  of Police, Odisha seeking  an inquiry into such threats . Though  one month 
has passed on, the DCP, Cuttack has not  conducted any inquiry into it. Srikant had
approached  Lokayukta  to 
conduct  an inquiry  into the matter . The  Chairman of Lokayukta  had 
issued  notice  to 
the Principal secretary, Dept. of Home 
and Director General of police 
to reply  by 30^th
March, 2020.

Case 
of  life  threats 
by  miscreants

Sri Simanchal Jena, RTI Activist  of 
Talasara village  under
Beguniapada  Block  of Ganjam district  had 
filed   a number  of complaint  cases 
in respect of  corruption in  implementation of  development programmes,  after 
obtaining information under RTI Act. After a notice was  issued by Lokayukta, Odisha, the vested
interest groups and contractors have conspired to kill him. On 25.11.19., a
miscreant named Tulu Bhuyan  tried  to run 
a tractor over his body. However he narrowly escaped.  On 26.11.19, he was also abused with slang
language by the contractors in the village. 
Though he filed an FIR, the police have not conducted any inquiry nor
taken any action against the culprits, and are rather trying to cover up the
whole episode. Simanchal  had  approached 
Lokayukta  seeking  direction to  the police 
to conduct  an inquiry  into the matter. Case  is pending 
in Lokayukta , Odisha

Case 
of  Physical attack, hackling
and humiliation  by Contractors
engaged  by Sarapanch and Panchayat
Executive  Officer  of Nafri Gram Panchayat

Apprehending huge 
corruption and irregularities 
in development  work, Chakradhar
Sahu   and his wife Kalyani Sahu, Naib
Sarapanch had filed  few RTI
Applications to the  Gram
Panchayat  seeking  information about  copy of Panchayat resolution, details of
expenses  for  repair 
of  primary  schools etc. On 20.1.20, while oth of them
had  gone to Panchayat  to attend 
the  meeting  of 
the GP, the  contractors,  anti-socials  engaged 
by Sarapancah  hackled   them. Then on their return to their
village, few contractors   attacked them, manhandled Kalyani Sahu and
threatened to withdraw RTI Applications. On the same day, Kalyani Sahu filed
an FIR in Bangiriposhi police station. But 
the  police registered  the case 
on 27.1.20 ( Case  No. 10/20)

Life 
threats  by Biren Basu, Assistant
Executive Engineer, R& B, Kendrapara

Sri Amitav Chand had  filed RTI 
in the office of Executive Engineer, R& B, Kendrapara  seeking 
information about (a) 
construction of Chandiapali Bridge, (b) Daspada-Kharnasi Raod, ( c)
Anguloi-Orta Raod  under Mahakalapada
block. On 17.2.20, Biren Basu, Assistant Executive Engineer  threatened him  to withdraw RTI Application, other he would
face fate of Ranjan Das  who was  murdered 
17 days  back.  Amitav 
got  disturbed  and shocked. On   18.2.20., he filed FIR in Jambu-Marine
Police station against  him seeking
legal action. On 22.2.20,  the  police 
registered  the case   having case no. 17/20. But  not yet 
taken any  action.

Case 
of  threats of implicating in
false case  by Tahasildar,
Kamakhyanagar

Jayakristan Behera, age 59 is quite active in RTI
activism since last 10 years. He has 
brought to limelight  a
number  of corruption  issued 
by using RTI Act  like illegal
appointment of lecturers in Kamakhya Nagar College, corruption and
misappropriation of  fund  in 
construction of Biju Bus Stand, Lodging  and khemaka market  complex, illegal stone quarry, bribe  in mutation case  of land, loot  of fund of Pani panchayat etc.  On 13^th Feb.20, while  he had been to Kamakhyanagar Tahasil  to ask for status  of his RTI query, Sanjay Rout, Tahasildar
threatened  him  to face 
dire consequence, unless  he
leaves  RTI work. Sri Behera  got astonished and disturbed having
heard  and filed an FIR against
Tahasildar   in local police station.   

Case 
of  threats due  to expose 
of corruption by  the Inspector-in-Charge  of Astarang Police station , Puri  district

Jitendra Swain 
had  filed  complaint in Lokayukta , Odisha seeking
investigation into corruption  worth 10
crores  in planation programme and
distribution  of cow  to the 
beneficiaries. ON 13.3.20., the case 
was heard in the Lokayukta and  direction was issued  for 
inquiry  into it.
Apprehending  trouble, contractors,
Sarapanch and Chairman of Astarang Block  belonging 
to Biju Janata Dal, Ruling party 
in Odisha  used  police 
to restrain Jitendra  from
attending  the hearing of Lokayukta. On
12.3.20, Dillip Swain, Inspector-in-Charge  called him to the police station, abused in
slang language and threatened him  to
withdraw  the case at the instance of
BJD leaders.  

FIR alleging defamation  filed 
by BDO, Kantapada block

He along with the villagers had  filed RTI as well as  complaint  
in the office of Collector, Boudh alleging allotment  of 
two  houses  to a single woman beneficiaries  in two districts i.e., Boudh and Sonepur  under   Rural
Housing Scheme. Kedranath Sahu 
had  also  written extensively  in social media   raising 
few question about 
functioning  of BDO , Kantapada
. Alleging loss   of  his   credibility 
and social status , BLOCK Development Officer  ( BDO) had filed  an FIR 
in local police station seeking action against Kedar Sahu.