Amit Jethwa

It's becoming quite the norm now for RTI whistle blowers to face the music. And in Gujarat, this is happening with increasing frequency. In the last two years, cases of RTI activists being attacked, threatened, or even killed for embarking on such crusades is rising. After the widely publicised case of RTI activist Amit Jethwa being killed opposite Gujarat High Court in Ahmedabad over a year ago, another activist was assaulted in Porbandar on June 24, 2011.Bhagubhai Devani, a well-known advocate and RTI activist was stabbed with a knife by some unidentified men when he came out of his car near his residence in Porbandar. Devani had been fighting against illegal mining and construction in and around Porbandar. He had named former BJP Minister for Irrigation, Babu Bokhiria, and two other BJP functionaries as the men behind the attack. Sources say he was receiving threats for his activities, but had refused police protection. Thanks to Devani's petition, Bokhiria was arrested in a Rs 54 crore limestone theft case.

Given the nature of their work, RTI activists often end up making more enemies than friends. In February 2011, Jabbardan Gadhvi, 42, a farmer and RTI activist, committed suicide outside the revenue office in Rapar Tehsil of Kutch district, after authorities failed to respond to his application. He had been receiving constant threats from government officials for seeking information on irregularities in cattle grazing in the district. Two years ago, Praful Korat, another RTI activist from Una district, had also been assaulted for asking questions.

The tragic case of Jethwa being shot dead in July 2010 was also against alleged illegal mining near the Gir wildlife sanctuary that went on with the backing of some politicians. Blaming the state government, Jethwa's father, Bhikhabhai Batawala said: “I have full trust in the state judiciary, but not in the state government.” He was also indignant that someone had offered him Rs 5 crore last August by way of a
‘settlement’.