ACTIVIST WANT SPECIAL CELL TO REGISTER THREAT COMPLAINTS

Mumbai: Four days after James John, an activist of Action for good Governance and Networking in India (AGNI) was assaulted by a mob led by Shiv Sainiks, the police have arrested two attackers. John was protesting against water theft at Andheri. Brothers Ganesh and Mahesh Pujari were arrested on Saturday and later granted bail by a metropolitan court.

Meanwhile, activists have renewed their demands for a special cell at police headquarters where they can register complaints if they face threat of violence from people who oppose their work and get special protection. “These attacks are mere symptoms; underlying it are certain basic flaws in the machinery in booking such people. The police is often in collusion with the local goons. Cops initially refuse to file an FIR while the miscreants lodge a counter complaint so that the activist’s complaint is neutralized,” said AGNI vice-chairman D M Sukthankar.

“There is a need for a citizens’ movement to protect whistle blowers who expose themselves to such attacks in public interest,” added AGNI convenor Gerson da Cunha.

AGNI has announced that it will take up the matter with chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and deputy chief minister and also meet Sena Leader Uddhav Thackeray.

“Last year we had met the police commissioner and the chief secretary of the state with our demand but there has been no adequate response so far,” said Sumaira Abdulali from Movement against Intimidation, Threat and Revenge against Activists (MITRA), a victim of such an attack herself.

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