RTI activists beaten up in Raj during awareness drive

Around 12 RTI activists, associated with noted anti-graft crusaders Aruna Roy and Nikhil Dey, were allegedly beaten up by a large group of people, when they were conducting a road show on raising awareness about government accountability in Jhalawar district of Rajasthan.
The incident occurred in Aklera area where the activists were holding a street play as part of their campaign.
"The activists have lodged a complaint against unidentified persons, and we have arrested four accused in this connection," SP Jhalawar Rajendra Singh said.
Windowpanes of some of the vehicles of the activists present there, were smashed by the crowd, the victims alleged.

Roy and Dey are currently spearheading a 100-day 'yatra' across Rajashthan, during which several activists are also holding 'accountability fairs' and registering grievances along the way.
The 'yatra', that will cover all the districts of the state, started on December 1 last year from Jaipur, organised under the aegis of Soochana Evam Rozgar Adhikar Abhiyan.

Roy, who was not present at the site of the incident, however, in a statement has alleged that the members of the 'yatra' were attacked by men, armed with lathis, who broke their cameras and damaged windowpanes of their (activists) vehicles.
She alleged that the attackers were led by BJP MLA Kanwar Meena.

The SP said that the complaint was against unidentified persons and the matter was being investigated to ascertain the role of the MLA.
The BJP legislator, who represents Manohar Thana constituency of Jhalawar district in the Assembly, could not be immediately reached out for comments.
Jhalawar is the Lok Sabha constituency of Dushyant singh, son of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.