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Ahmedabad/New Delhi, Jul 21 (PTI) The killing of a RTI crusader against mining mafia in Gujarat has stunned the Right to Information fraternity which saw a "pattern" in yet another fatal attack in the recent months on persons raising their voice against corruption and irregularities. RTI activists while voicing concern today over yesterday''s attack feared there is a serious threat to their campaign in unearthing truth in cases of public importance. Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah felt there was no cause for alarm but agreed the incident was a cause for concern. Habibullah also spoke of the need for the Government to bring to book the guilty quickly in cases where citizens while exercising their right to seek information are killed. It should also consider providing protection to RTI activists, he said. Amit Jethwa, who had filed a PIL against illegal mining in Gir forest region in Gujarat, was shot dead in Ahmedabad by two unidentified gunmen opposite Gujarat High Court. "I think this is not just a series of incidents that have taken place in the last one or two years. It is becoming a pattern," said Arvind Kejriwal, adding that the attack on RTI activists can have a "demoralising effect" in the crusade agaist corruption. Jethwa was shot from a close range by the assailants who fled on a motorcycle after the incident, police said. He was very active in conservation of wildlife, especially lions, in 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. The concern voiced by RTI activists also came against the backdrop of reports that former Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti had written to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to say that the Central Vigilance Commissions initiative to protect whistleblowers, started after the murder of NHAI engineer Satyendra Dubey, has failed miserably. Every whistleblower who has risked his life to approach the CVC has "come to grief", even as the culprits roam free, Justice Lahoti has said. Lahoti has also reportedly squarely blamed the "dysfunctional" attitude of senior officers of the CVC for this situation. Kejriwal said the system has become so "thoroughly rotten" that anyone who treis to expose corruption or tries to raise his voice against irregularities is targeted. "I think something very seriously and immediately needs to be done," he said. Kejriwal also accused the police of ignoring pleas of RTI activists to provide protection in some cases. Another RTI activist Amarsinh Chavda said he is going to write to the Centre and the Guajarat government. "We are shocked. We are unafe," Chavda, who had raised questions on Gujarat chief minister''s office receiving largesse from a state public sector firm, said. Habibullah does not think there is a regular threat to RTI activists. "These cases(attacks) ae not common. They are rare fortunately," he said. He however agreed yesterday''s incident could be seen as an attempt to stifle the right of a citizen to exercise a fundamental right to seek information. In the recent months, RTI activists Satish Shetty, who exposed many land scams and Datta Patil, who exposed corruption amongst several politicians and bureaucrats have been killed in Maharashtra. PTI.
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