Arun Sawant had approached police for protection, but did not get it; Human Rights Commission finds cop claim of activist being ‘a troublemaker’ unfounded.

Five years after an attack left him paralysed, RTI activist Arun Sawant will be compensated Rs 10 lakh by the state government, as per an order by the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC). An elated Sawant told Mirror on Thursday that the order not only validates his struggle, but will also help others in future.

Sawant, 64, was shot at by two unidentified motorcycle riders in Badlapur on February 26, 2010, while he was on his way to file an RTI application at the Badlapur Municipal Corporation. He was hit by a bullet on the lower part of his back, which led to severe injuries to his spinal cord and rendered him bedridden and paralytic in both feet.

A fortnight before the attack, fearing danger to his life Sawant had approached the Thane police for protection. According to his complaint to SHRC, he had written to the police on February 9 citing threats to his life but was not provided any protection, leading to the attack.

When SHRC summoned the police, they tried to wriggle out of the situation by dubbing the activist a ‘troublemaker’.

During the hearing before the commission under chairperson, Justice SR Bannurmath, and member, Bhagwant More, the Thane police claimed that Sawant was not a social worker but was misusing provisions of the RTI Act and blackmailing public servants. The police also claimed that while Sawant was asked several times to give it in writing that he needed police protection, he had not done so.

The commission, however, found the claims were unfounded and that there was no proof, including the lack of any records through station diary entries regarding Sawant being approached after a request was sent by him for protection.

“In the absence of any documentary evidence, the commission prima facie finds that the entire story of alleged enquiry or approach to the complainant on various dates is a selfserving, afterthought story put by the police in its defence,” the order said.

The commission’s order also criticised the police. “This apathy and insensitivity of the concerned police probably appears to be out of prejudice towards the complainant’s RTI activities… whenever a citizen seeks police protection under reasonable circumstances/prima facie grounds, the concerned police are expected to act swiftly and not take their own sweet time,” the order said.

Ruling that the negligence in not providing timely protection led to the violation of human rights, apart from compensation, the commission has also made recommendations. It stated that the Home Department should issue directions to senior police officials to take serious note of requests made for police protection with expeditious action.

Sawant told Mirror that the order not only validated his struggle but is also significant, as it will help others seeking police protection. “I had approached the commission seeking justice and am happy with the order. The recommendations to the police to give police protection to persons fighting for just causes in our democracy will encourage many,” Sawant said.

Sawant further said that after the death of Pune RTI activist Satish Shetty, his apprehension of being attacked had grown. He said that things continue to remain the same for those who speak against people in powerful positions.

Recently, activists have expressed a similar fear after receiving death threats with many criticising the government for not adequately ensuring their protection. In March, human rights activist and advocate Asim Sarode was asked to pay Rs 75000 for police security after he complained of having received death threats.