Kuldeep Singh Kaira

RTI Activist

Punjab

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on February 16 regarding the physical attack on Mr. Kuldeep Singh Kaira in Ludhiana, Punjab. Mr. Kaira is a RTI activist based in Ludhiana. He has been active in raising issues of unauthorized building constructions.

In Ishar Nagar area of Ludhiana, private builders were constructing flats without obtaining official approval from the municipal corporation. On January 16, 2018, Mr. Kaira filed complaints before different authorities against municipal officials for permitting the unapproved construction. Following this, through letter no. 444/ATP-C, dated 19.01.2018, the Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, was requested by the Municipal Corporation to lodge an FIR against the proprietors of M/S RK Builders. On January 20, 2018, two persons who were associated with M/S RK Builders, threatened Mr. Khaira. Mr. Khaira ignored this threat.

On January 22, 2018, the Municipal Corporation stopped the construction on the spot and the news was covered by the media. At around 7.15 pm on the same day, when Mr. Khaira was in his office, three persons, with their faces covered, barged in and attacked him. When people came out to help, these persons fled from the spot. The entire incident has been captured on a CCTV camera. A complaint has been registered with the police.