TURA: A woman, who filed an RTI seeking details of the use of government funds by a village employment council secretary, has landed in hospital after she was allegedly assaulted by the family who took offence to her move, last week.
The victim, Nargis T Sangma of Tohsildarpara (Bagicha) village under Mahendraganj constituency of South West Garo Hills district, had filed the RTI with the Zikzak Development Block, in September last year, seeking details of the use of government funds by the VEC secretary, Zakir Hussain Khadakar.
In the RTI, the petitioner had asked for details regarding alleged use of government funds by the secretary to construct a boundary wall around his house.
The money was supposed to be used for public works.
The issue had apparently led to bad blood between the two sides and on April 20, an altercation took place in which the RTI applicant was assaulted by the wife of the accused secretary and his brothers.
The FIR names the VEC secretary’s brothers Janmia Khandakar, Jahangir Khandakar, Maruf Khandakar (son of Janmia), Solema Khatun (wife of VEC secretary) and another family member by the name of Bheemi for assaulting the RTI applicant.
“Our mother had to be hospitalised following the assault by the wife of the VEC secretary along with his brothers and other family members. Fearing for her life we filed a police complaint but no action has so far been taken,” alleged the victim’s daughter Mafisa T Sangma.
However, the family of the VEC secretary has filed a counter FIR accusing the petitioner’s family of attacking his wife.
Solema Khatun, wife of the secretary, alleged that it was she who sustained injuries in the attack.
“This counter FIR is to escape arrest and put the blame on us. There are witnesses to the entire incident which happened outside our home. Why do we need to attack anyone when we have moved legally and filed RTI to obtain details about misuse of government funds? The secretary cannot provide evidence of proper use of the scheme money which is why they have attacked us,” said the victim’s daughter.
The family is demanding justice and for the immediate arrest of the attackers and is also seeking an investigation into the use of government funds from 2015 to 2018 during the tenure of the accused VEC secretary.
