OHRC seeks Report from Police over RTI Activist’s Murder

Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has taken cognizance in killing of a RTI activist Ganesh Chandra Panda in Berhmpur in December 2014. OHRC has asked the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Ganjam District to file a report within four weeks. Commission’s order came to the response of a complaint filed by rights activist Akhand. Last December, 29, Panda was brutally attacked by some miscreants and died on the spot. Police found that the main cause of murder was due to his RTI works.

Extensive use of RTI to expose corruption in development work endangered his life. He had filed series of RTI Applications in the office of Rangeilunda block to access information about road construction work undertaken under NREGA and Phailin and Flood Damage Restoration Project of the government. It is suspected that huge fund allocated under FDR is being misappropriated by contractors, block officials. He was using RTI to expose the corruption and ensure effective implementation of the programme, said Akhand.The petitioner prayed before the commission for compensation to the victim’s family and action against the culprits.