The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has declined to share information on the death of its personnel in Naxal attacks in Bihar and Chhattisgarh, saying there was no "violations of human rights".
The CRPF, which is mandated to disclose information only related to human rights violation and corruption cases under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, also said there was no public interest warranted in disclosing the information related to their killings.
"...There appears to be no violation of human rights as well as facts of the case do not attract the allegations of corruption. Moreover, there is no public interest to disclose such type of information," the CRPF said in reply to an RTI query.
Exercising his Right to Information, Venkatesh Nayak had sought details of two incidents--killing of two personnel in Bihar's Munger district on April 10 and death of six CRPF men in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on April 12--involving the deaths of CRPF personnel in Bihar and Chhattisgarh.
The copies of intelligence reports, which was also sought by the applicant, were sent to Bihar and Chhattisgarh governments on these two incidents.
"Moreover, you are seeking reports related to incidents or intelligence report which are related to national security and exempted to be disclosed under Section 8 (1) (a)," it said.
The Section bars disclosure of information which would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State, relation with foreign State or lead to incitement of an offence.
"CRPF has refused to accept that murders of its personnel serving in Bihar and Chhattisgarh amount to a violation of their right to life. They are not even disclosing information about compensation to be paid (or already paid) to the families and also inquiry reports into the incidents," said Nayak, Programme Coordinator, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative.
