RTI activists attacked in Maharashtra

Three RTI activists were attacked allegedly by a members of a political party at Phaltan taluka in Satara, seriously injuring one.

Satara: Three RTI activists were
attacked allegedly by a members of a political party at
Phaltan taluka here, seriously injuring one.

The activists--Popat Pandurang Barge (37), Vishal
Chandrakant Pawar (37) and Vishal Pandurang Barge (35)-- were
attacked last night around 11 pm using swords, sticks and
steel rods, police said.

The attack came after some members of Anna Hazare-led
Bhrastachar Virodhi Jana Andolan (The People`s Movement
Against Corruption) sought information under the Right to
Information Act on a illegal construction project here,
according to the activists.

The trio was admitted to the Satara and Phaltan Civil
Hospital after the incident. Barge, who heads the Phaltan unit
of the BVJA, has been seriously injured in the attack.

The outfit members were initially threatened, hours
before the attack to back out from the issue but were later
targetted.

Cases have been registered against five persons--Firoj
Attar, Yogesh Shinde, Pritam Bendre, Sachin Deshpande and
Nilesh Kahnwilkar-- in connection with the attack, police
said.

Though the injured activists claim that the assailants
belong to state`s ruling coalition partner NCP, police did not
confirm it, saying investigations are on.

PTI

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