Sitting Ducks of India

On August 15 this year, she tweeted: “Happy Independence Day. “Proud to be an Indian.” The next day, she was found dead in her own car. She was Shehla Masood, a prominent Right to Information activist and Anna Hazare’s supporter. She was shot at point blank range in broad daylight outside her residence just after she asked for protection from the respective police department. Still it’s been months that CBI took over the case but they are not in a position to catch root of the crime.

On 5 November 2011, Nadeem Saiyed of Ahmadabad was brutally killed after being stabbed twenty five times. He filed about 40 RTIs with the Ahmadabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) between 2006 and 2009, asking questions on illegal cow slaughter and beef trade in the state. In July a Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethwa who was fighting against illegal mining, which includes several politicians, was killed near the Gujarat High Court by unidentified men. Ahmedabad police official said that some unidentified men on a motorcycle fired at Jethwa.

At least 13 RTI activists are killed since 2011, apparently in revengeful attacks. RTI activists, labelled as sitting ducks in India, have paid the ultimate price for asking persistent and uncomfortable queries to higher authorities. Most of RTI activists have been murdered while some have faced serious physical attacks, exploitation under false charges to suppress their voices and some have also experienced social banishment.

RTI activists are not necessarily part of any organisation or group. They often act alone, moved by outrage against corruption and other illegal activities. The activists are extremely vulnerable as they live in the same areas as the corrupt public authorities, political leaders and mafia who do not want information about their illegal activities to be disclosed. It’s freaking sad that the activists come to the media attention only when killed, maimed or battling for life.

Neha Nathani