Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh:
A right to information activist Dr Amar Nath Pandey has been shot at in the Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh reportedly for seeking information on corruption in the implementation of MNREGA schemes in the area and exposing district level corruption.
This was the second attempt on his life in the last one week when a jeep had tried to run him over.
The main suspect, the Block Development Officer, was suspended after his expose.
''I was coming back after consulting a child specialist regarding viral fever of my grandson. In the narrow alley near Bechu Halwai that goes up to Sonbhadra Pathologist centre through Samsuddin's house, a person came running from behind, fired and fled," said RTI activist Dr Amar Nath Pandey.
"Amar Nath Pandey informed us that he was shot at. Prima facie, he is out of danger and was talking despite being fired upon. He said that he has been raising voice against Gharaulia block BDO (Rajesh Yadav), who attacked him in an act of immediate rage. FIR has been lodged against Rajesh Yadav, Rajesh Dubey and one more person," said Deepak Kumar Superintendent of Police, Sonbhadra.
Pandey's RTI query had revealed that local roads were being constructed under NREGA with a sanction of 24 rupees for each brick.
When in reality the bricks cost no more than four rupees apiece.
Money had been sanctioned to repair old roads, though on paper they were classified as new road constructions.
Also, NREGA money was being paid to job cards issued in the name of dead people.
Sonbhadra residents have mobilised in support of their hero but the lack of protection for whistleblowers means they have to fight the battle on many fronts.