RTI applications attract violent reprisals in South Sikkim

GANGTOK, 05 May: “Anyone can seek information through RTI and Police Department is always there to ensure protection of the RTI applicants,” said Superintendent of Police [South], Manoj Tiwari, in response to a written complaint submitted to his office by “The Sikkim RTI Forum” on Wednesday, alleging that the cops have been “completely incompetent” in delivering on their duties.
In a written complaint addressed to SP [South], a copy of which was also marked to District Collector [South], Director General of Police, Chief Justice, High Court of Sikkim, Chief Secretary and the Governor, the Forum’s general secretary, DK Chettri, alleges that two instances of violent reprisals against RTI activists have remained unsolved in South Sikkim.

The letter informs that a vehicle belonging to Arjun Sedai, an RTI activist from Turung in South Sikkim, was set on fire by some anti-social elements on 28 April, 2011. This was the second time that his vehicle was attacked. Earlier on 05 April, the miscreant/s had burned a tyre, it is informed.
“Complaints regarding both incidents were lodged at the local police station but police failed to trace the culprits,” the letter alleges.
The SP [South] informed that the victim has been unable to identify the culprit[s] and does not have eyewitnesses or names of suspects. Despite the sketchy information at hand, the SP added, the police was carrying out a thorough investigation and trying to trace down the culprits.
In another allegation, the Forum submitted that another RTI activist, Padam Bahadur Tamang from Bermoik had filed a RTI application seeking details of MGNREGA projects in his area. In return, he was attacked and physically assaulted on 03 May.
Here too, the police failed to give justice to the victim, the letter alleges.
On this, the SP informs that preliminary investigation has suggested that this matter smacked of an attempt to ‘blackmail’.
According to the SP, Mr. Tamang, went to the worksite and confronted workers there resulting in a minor clash with the lady in-charge at the project site.
“This finding came after we took the statements of 15 women engaged in the project site,” he said.
According to him, investigation was underway to gather more details.
Mr. Tiwari highlights that individuals have a right to seek information through RTI and assured that the Police will always ensure protection of such activists and also of the public in general.
Meanwhile, DC [South], AK Singh, who also received a copy of the letter, said, “We have taken up the matter seriously and thorough investigation is on.”
He claimed that if the complaints are found to be genuine, strict legal actions will be taken against those involved in the crimes.