RTI activist shot at in Sirsa,sarpanch blamed

According to his nephew Pawan,Maniram had filed various applications seeking information under the Right to Information Act for unearthing an alleged scam in the village’s development works. Pawan also alleged that village sarpanch Partap Singh had come under the scanner because of the information procured by Maniram.

“A few youths barged into Maniram’s residence and opened fire. Maniram was shot at from point blank range. I was also badly assaulted by the assailants,who fled after shooting Maniram. We rushed him to the hospital,” Pawan said.

In his complaint to the police,Pawan alleged that the village sarpanch could be behind the assault on his uncle. “Maniram was seeking information pertaining to discrepancies and financial irregularities in development works in our village. However,Partap Singh was not comfortable with such RTI applications. He had also threatened Maniram in the past,” Pawan told the police.

Based on Pawan’s complaint,the police have registered a case of attempt to murder. Investigations are on to trace the identity and whereabouts of the assailants.