Belthangady: Fighting for truth turned out to be precarious for a local RTI activist at Ujire in Belthangady. In a rather shocking incident, Ujire GP Vice-President splashed boiling water on an RTI activist who was trying to expose misappropriations in a government scheme.
RTI activist Balasubramanya Bhat, the victim is now undergoing treatment at a government hospital after Vinutha Gowda, VP of Ujire Gram Panchayat splashed boiling hot water at him on Tuesday, at her residence.
It is said that Bhat had complained to Rajiv Gandhi Housing Programme authorities about the misappropriation done by Vinutha Gowda under Basava Vasathi Yojane. Following this, the authorities had directed Taluk Panchayat Executive Officer to initiate a probe into the complaint. Accordingly a team of officers led by the EO visited the residence of Vinutha Gowda on Tuesday. Seeing Bhat accompany the team, Vinutha reportedly lost her cool and splashed hot water at him. This caused severe injuries on Bhat’s back.
Bhat said that he has been trying to expose many such misdeeds of the local Panchayat and hence he suspects that there may be more people behind the act of the VP.
