Mahesh Vijayan

RTI Activist

Kerala

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on March 24, 2020 regarding attacks on Mr. Mahesh Vijayan by a gang allegedly associated with the construction and sand mining mafia in Kerala. Mr. Vijayan is an RTI activist.

On the night of February 11, 2020, four members of the sand mining mafia forcibly entered the residence of Mr. Vijayan with weapons on the pretext of having some discussion. The gang began to attack him, but he somehow managed to get inside his house and lock the door. While the attackers tried to break the door, his wife and mother screamed for help. Hearing this, neighbours gathered outside the house, following which the assailants escaped.

Mr. Vijayan was physically assaulted by members of the same mafia earlier on January 22, 2020 in the municipal office when he was there to file an RTI application regarding sand-mining. Though a case was registered and the accused were arrested then, they were released the same day as the charges were minor. 

On February 13, 2020, Mr. Vijayan was subjected to verbal abuse and physical assault by the sand mafia and all documents in his possession were snatched and destroyed by the perpetrators. The assailants were identified and a case was registered against them under Sections 294 (B), 341, 323, 427 and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).