By Hamza Khan
On the eve of the 21st anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a musical procession marking the occasion was disrupted by a group of men who allegedly assaulted social activists and women participants in Beawar, the birthplace of the RTI movement, on Sunday evening.
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) said that the incident took place around 6 pm near Chang Gate, as the ‘Ghotala Rath Yatra’ was proceeding through the town. The procession, organised by MKSS and some citizens, had started from Ajmeri Gate around 4.30 pm.
Beawar SP Ratan Singh said, “They (the activists) were taking out a procession without permission. Some people came and asked them about their slogans. There was dhakka-mukki (pushing and shoving). The police then intervened and brought both sides to the police station. Further action is underway.”
He said, “They (the activists) had no permission in writing but I have been told that they had informed (the authorities concerned) about the procession.”
Ashutosh Panday, SHO of Beawar City police station, said, “It was a clash between two groups, one was local while the other was of activists. Persons from both the groups sustained injuries. There was sloganeering, the environment is such…”
The SHO said that both sides have given a complaint; and while an FIR has been lodged on the basis of the complaint by the locals, another is being registered on the basis of the activists’ complaint.
This story was originally published in indianexpress.com. Read the full story here.
