RTI activist shot dead near Gujarat high court

Written By DNA Web Team | Updated: Jul 20, 2010, 10:44 PM IST

Amit Jethwa, who filed a petition against illegal mining in Gir area of Gujarat, was shot from a close range by the assailants who fled on a motorcycle after the incident.

A prominent Right to Information (RTI) activist, who had filed a PIL against illegal mining in Gir forest region, was shot dead by two unidentified gunmen opposite Gujarat high court in Ahmedabad today, police said.

Amit Jethwa was shot from a close range by the assailants who fled on a motorcycle after the incident, they said.

Police inspector HM Kundaliya said Jethwa died on the spot after he was shot.

"His body was being sent for postmortem and search for the assailants was on," Kundaliya told PTI.

Jethwa was very active in the conservation of wildlife, especially lions, in the Gir area. He has also helped the police solve some cases relating to lion poaching.

Jethwa had recently filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the high court against illegal mining in the Gir region of Junagadh district which is considered the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world.