Freedom Forum condemns the attack on a local Rambabu Mandal by Ram Shankar Paswan, Chairperson of Ward No 18 from Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan Office. Mandal was beaten for seeking information relating to the activities of the Sub-Metropolitan Office.
Mandal is the resident of Janakpurdham Ward No. 18. He was beaten by his own Ward Chairperson Paswan in the presence of Mayor Lal Kishor Shah.
According to the information received by FF's representative for Province 2, Rajan Singh, Mandal along with another local Tapeshor Thakur had registered application seeking information on expenses related to activities of development constructions in the Sub-Metropolis.
Mandal shared the plight that he was asked to share the demanded information to Mayor Shah. Meanwhile, Chairperson Paswan was also present on the occasion. “As I was talking to Mayor about the demanded information, Ward Chairperson Paswan aggressively responded to me and attacked,” said Mandal.
Thakur who witnessed the incident said that Mayor was silent when Mandal was beaten by Paswan.
After the incident, Mandal filed the complaint at the District Administration Office and District Police Office, Dhanusha. But until now, no action was taken against Chairperson Paswan.
According to Section 3(2) of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, “Every citizen has the right to access the information held at public bodies”.
Hence, FF urges the concerned authorities to investigate the issue seriously and take action against the attacker. RTI is constitutionally guaranteed right where the public is free to ask questions to the public authority about the ongoing events, expenses and about the progress in the offices.
For More Information
Freedom Forum
monitoring@freedomforum.org.np
01-4102030/ 4102022