Two social activists, one from Mumbai and another from Yavatmal in Vidarbha, today moved the Bombay high court alleging police inaction in the face of assault and threats.
In the case of Mumbai-based activist Sumeira Abdulali, court sought reply from director general of police tomorrow.
Division bench of justices F I Rebello and Amjed Sayed is currently hearing a suo-moto PIL regarding murder of Talegaon-based RTI activist Satish Shetty, and about the protection of social activists in general.
Lawyer for Abdulali, president of NGO Awaz Foundation, today alleged that some persons threatened her and damaged her
car when she was returning from inspecting illegal sand-mining
in Raigad.
Three PILs regarding illegal sand mining in Konkan, including one filed by Awaz, are pending before court.
According to Abdulali, she visited and video-recorded illegal mining in Bankot creek near Sriwardhan yesterday morning, alongwith local activist Abdul Nasir.
On her way back, her car was stopped by Faizal Chandale, Juner Jalal, Sadik Jalal, Nizam Hurjuk and others. They allegedly threatened her and damaged her car, taking objection to her shooting the sand-mining.
She further alleges that she filed FIR in Mahad police station, and the accused were present there, but police made no arrests.
The court has sought reply from DGP tomorrow in this matter, saying that "if this is confirmed, it requires serious action".
Another activist, Rajanikant Borele from Pandharkawada in Yavatmal district, today filed application alleging that he faced threats from some anti-social elements, but police were not ready to give him free protection.
He alleged that this was because he had "exposed" police through RTI.
Asking him to give a copy of the application to additional government pleader Nitin Deshpande, court said, "if he falls in the category of social activist, then there is no reason why fee should be charged for protection."
Court sought police's reply in this case in four weeks.
Court took up the issue of threat faced by social activists after Talegaon-based RTI activist Satish Shetty, who had exposed many land scams in Pune, was brutally murdered in January.
Senior Counsel D Madon, appointed as 'amicus curie' to assist the court, today submitted some recommendations regarding protection of social activists.
Madon's recommendations contemplate, among other things, setting up of a special help-line where complaints of threat can be made, and "safe-houses'" where activists or their families can be put up, temporarily.
Madon has also suggested that all the cases of threats/assaults where social activists are targetted, investigation should be conducted by additional commissioner of police (operations).
"The state should be directed to set up a protection programme without delay under which protection should be made available to individual social activists and agencies fighting for human rights and fundmamental freedoms," recommendations say.
Court has sought government's reply on this too.
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