Tella Hanumanta Rao

RTI Activist

Andhra Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India regarding the attack and grievous injuries on RTI activist Mr. Tella Hanumanta Rao for exposing and unearthing corruption. Mr. Rao is a resident of Kalavakuru village, Addanki Mandal in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh. He has been writing to the panchayat, revenue and education departments seeking information about the projects undertaken under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the construction of side drains in various villages the cost of which runs into several crores.

On the night of January 17, 2017, Mr. Rao was waylaid by a group of three persons and was attacked while he was returning from Addanki on his motorcycle. The assailants attacked him with crowbars after smashing the streetlights in order to cover their identity. They also intimidated him for seeking information against them from government offices. The police rushed to the spot after the family members of Mr. Rao informed them and shifted him to a hospital as he suffered injuries on both his legs. The doctors told the family members that his right leg was severely injured which might lead to amputation.

Mr. D Emanuel, co-convener of the LokSatta movement, said that Mr. Rao has been trying to unravel the scam worth Rs. 1 crore that occurred in the village and that must be the reason for the attack. The police has registered a case of grievous assault against six persons -- Kaluva Elisha, K Venkateswara Reddy, A Srinivasa Reddy, Koti Reddy, Patas Reddy and Siva Reddy.