Slain RTI activist’s friend attacked

Talegaon-based Right to Information activist Arun Baburao Mane, 36, a close associate of slain RTI activist Satish Shetty, suffered multiple injuries after he was attacked with a sharp weapon on Sunday morning.

Two men attacked Mane inside his shop, Surabhi Footwear at Jijamata Chowk in Talegaon-Dhabade, about 40km from Pune. Initially, Mane was treated for injuries in his head, chest and hands at the Talegaon government hospital. He was later shifted to a private hospital with three stitches on his head. Doctors have said that his condition is stable.

On December 28, Mane had reported to the police that some people had threatened him over the phone, DSP Shrikrishna Kokate said. Mane had been provided with an armed policeman for protection. Two days ago, Mane left Talegoan-Dhabade for Alibaug in Raigad. He had not intimated the Pune rural police about his visit.

Speaking to DNA, Mane said two men on a motorcycle came to his shop at 8.15 in the morning. “I had just opened the shop and had asked my helper to get a newspaper,” he said. “One of the suspects entered the shop and confronted me. He asked me to stop following cases under the RTI Act. Before I could say anything, he attacked me and fled.”

Neighbouring shopkeepers and people in the vicinity rushed to help Mane and took him to the Talegaon government hospital.

On January 13, unidentified assailants murdered RTI activist Satish Shetty near his home at Talegaon-Dahabade. Shetty had used the RTI to expose irregularities in the sale of kerosene meant for distribution in ration shops and some illegal constructions.

Speaking to DNA, Shetty’s brother Sandeep Shetty said Mane had called him just once and informed him that he was following his brother’s cases under the RTI.

“I was not in regular touch with Mane for the past six months,” Shetty said. “He called me three days ago to tell me that some people had threatened him over
the phone.”