A young man was allegedly attacked in the Tohana area of Fatehabad district, Haryana, in a shocking case of retaliation linked to a Right to Information (RTI) application. The victim had sought details about documents submitted by a woman sarpanch during her nomination process.
Police Register Case Against Four Accused
The Tohana Sadar police have registered a criminal case against four individuals, including the brother of the sarpanch, under various sections of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS). The investigation is currently ongoing.
The complaint was filed by Praveendar, a resident of Purna Majra village who runs a mobile phone shop on Tohana Railway Road. The accused have been identified as Lala, the brother of sarpanch Kanta Devi, and three of his associates.
Details of the Alleged Attack
According to the complaint, the incident occurred on January 6. Praveendar was returning home in his SUV after closing his shop when a car carrying four youths blocked his way on Simbal Road.
He alleged that the accused, armed with wooden rods, stepped out of their vehicle. Fearing for his safety, Praveendar quickly reversed his car and drove back towards the city via Railway Road. However, the pursuers allegedly rammed their vehicle into his car from behind near Girls' School street, breaking a window.
The victim managed to drive to Saini Mohalla, where the attackers reportedly threatened to kill him before finally fleeing the spot. Praveendar recognized one of them as Lala.
RTI Query and Pending Court Case
In his statement to the police, Praveendar revealed the motive behind the attack. He claimed to have filed an application under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking information about allegedly forged documents used by Sarpanch Kanta Devi during the election process.
He further stated that a court case related to this matter is already pending against the sarpanch's family. The attack appears to be a direct consequence of his efforts to seek transparency through the RTI mechanism.
The police have confirmed that further investigation into the assault case is underway, highlighting the serious nature of attacks on those using legal means to question authority.
