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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | RTI activist Gera getting threat calls by Dipak Kumar Dash

RTI activist Gera getting threat calls by Dipak Kumar Dash

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published Published on Jan 26, 2011   modified Modified on Jan 26, 2011

A Faridabad-based RTI activist has alleged that he has been receiving threat calls from the local land mafia for filing a PIL against illegal conversion of industrial land for commercial use in the city.

Although the Punjab and Haryana High Court had asked the city police to look into his threat perception in 2009, police have done nothing so far. Kishan Lal Gera, who was appointed as an adviser to the Municipal Corporation of Faridabad (MCF) to check chances of corruption and leakages in the civic agency, claims that his life is at risk and "anything could happen" to him and his family at any time.

Gera, who has received a national award for his RTI activism said that things started going against him since 2008 when he filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking removal of illegal constructions and encroachments in industrial areas.

"I had brought to the notice of the court that industrial plots in Faridabad were sub-divided illegally, flouting all by-laws set by the municipal authority. Some of these sub-divided plots were being used as banquet halls, shopping malls and showrooms," Gera recalled.

He added that he had filed a similar PIL in the court seeking removal of all encroachments on public land in the city. Subsequently, the HC had directed the MCF to remove all such encroachments and also to identify all unauthorized constructions in the city, and to take concrete steps against such activities.

"But since I saw MCF doing nothing, I filed RTI applications with the corporation seeking action. It's from then that I started receiving threat calls from many of them who were affected by my writ petitions and my subsequent RTIs filed with the MCF. I have those recorded calls with me," Gera claimed.

The RTI activist said some of the callers even came to his house and asked him to withdraw the case. "Now the situation has become worse. Whenever the MCF issues notice to anyone against illegal construction, they refer my case to the HC. People end up at my doorstep and ask me to withdraw the cases. I feel insecure about myself and my family members," Gera said.

He added that since the local police were doing nothing to protect him, he had approached the Supreme Court for protection of his life and liberty. But the SC referred the case to the HC. Responding to Gera's plea, the HC had told the local police on December 8, 2009 that the 'authorities concerned' need to look into Gera's representation and dispose of it "expeditiously". However, nothing has happened since then. Responding to these allegations, the Faridabad police commissioner said that Gera had met him recently. "But he never talked about the threats he was receiving. If he comes to me with the order and necessary documents, I will look into the matter," he said.


The Times of India, 27 January, 2011, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/RTI-activist-Gera-getting-threat-calls/articleshow/7368170.cms


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