In yet another case of attack and harassment of an RTI activist, the Begunia police have sided with the miscreants who attacked the victim and misbehaved with him, let alone registering his FIR.
RTI activist Bikash Chandra Nayak, a tribal youth of Begunia block of Khurda district, filed a complaint petition on May 23 in the office of Odisha Human Rights Commission and Odisha Information Commission seeking an inquiry into conspiracy of vested groups and police to file false and fabricated case to harass him and refrain him from filling RTI applications.
On May 10, Nayak had filed three RTI applications to the office of Tehsildar and office of BDO, Bolagarh block and office of Child Development Project Officer, ICDS, Bolagarh, seeking information about details of land encroached and grazing land etc. encroached by vested groups ( Tahasil office), details of allotment of houses to the beneficiaries under Biju Pucca Yojana, PMAY ( block office) and details of allocation and distribution of food to pregnant and lactating woman under ICDS project ( CDPO office).
In the wake of huge corruption and misappropriation of funds by officials, political touts and Anganwadi workers, the activist had filed the queries to expose the scam and bring it to the notice of the public.
However, goons attacked him on May 13 night and abused him with slang. They asked him to withdraw the RTI applications. They also threatened him of dire consequence unless he obliges.
Next day, Bikash filed an FIR at the Begunia police station seeking an inquiry into the matter and action against the culprits.
But the Sub-Inspector did not register the FIR; rather, he allegedly misbehaved with him and warned him against going to police station further.On the other hand, the same SI immediately registered a counter FIR filed by the accused against the activist and tried to arrest him.
Meanwhile, Nayak urged both the OHRC and the Information Commission to direct the SP, Khurda, to conduct an inquiry into his allegation and direct the IIC, Begunia Police Station to register his FIR and conduct an inquiry. He also demanded action against SI, Begunia police station for misbehaving with him.