Duo arrested for murder of 47-year-old RTI activist in Mumbai

Four days after the murder of RTI activist Dattatray Patil, 47, in Ichalkaranji, the local police have arrested two persons who were allegedly involved in the killing.

Patil, who was hacked to death last Saturday, was murdered after his assailants threw chilli powder on his face to blind him.

He was the second RTI activist to be murdered after the killing of Pune-based RTI activist Satish Shetty earlier this year.

Patil, a close associate of social activist Anna Hazare, had recently unearthed a corruption racket, which had resulted in removal of the area’s deputy superintendent of police, a senior police inspector and action was initiated against officials of the Ichalkaranji Corporation.

Also, the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) had started investigations against certain local municipal corporators on the basis of complaints lodged by Patil.

The activist’s family is still in a state of shock and suspects some corporators’ hand in the murder. “The family is very distressed and they do not trust the police and the CID. They want to wait for three more days before demanding a CBI enquiry,” said Shivaji Raut, a local journalist, who met Patil’s family.

Another RTI activist, Vihar Dhuve, who visited Patil’s home said, “The family is still in shock and they do not want to speak. Patil comes from a poor background and has children as young as seven years old.”

The murder of activists has left the community worried, and they want the government to take some action. RTI activist SK Nangia said their drive for transparency and work does not stop because of the murders. “But, people do feel threatened when no action is taken,” added Nangia.

“The state government is sitting on the high court directives, which says that the state should form a committee and identify RTI activists and whistle blowers. Nothing is being to safeguard us,” said Gaurang Vora, another RTI activist.