Despite directions from the government to protect RTI activists, there is no let up in the attacks on the information seekers across the country. Maharashtra tops the list with 52 instances of attacks, including 10 alleged murders and at least two suicides in the last 11 years, followed by Gujarat with 34 incidents, including eight alleged murders and one case of suicide. Last three years have reported 56 such cases, including 16 alleged murders of activists seeking information in public interest. Again Maharashtra tops this list with 29 incidents, followed by Gujarat (15 incidents), Delhi (12 incidents), Karnataka (10 incidents), Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh (9 incidents each). Venkatesh Nayak, Programme Coordinator at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) said the Whistleblowers Protection Act, adopted in 2014 is not equipped to protect RTI users.

Source: dna October 20, 2016 02:13 UTC