New Delhi: Journalists and activists are vulnerable Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) in India. Unlike other HRDs, a majority of Right to Information (RTI) activists are not part of any organisation; they often act alone, moved by anger at corruption and other illegal activities.

Activists in the country are vulnerable because they live in the same areas as public authorities and political leaders who do not want information about their activities to be disclosed. For the most part, HRDs receive media attention only when killed or seriously injured.

Besides, the RTI Act, 2005 provides inadequate protection to whistle-blowers. The Central Information Commission and state Information Commissions are not mandated to deal with such threats or attacks or to provide protection when needed.

To point out a few prominent cases, rationalist Narendra Achyut Dabholkar, while out on a morning walk, was murdered on August 20, 2013, He was shot down by two unidentified gunmen near Omkareshwar temple, Pune. The assailants fired four rounds at him from a point blank range and fled on a motorcycle parked nearby. Two bullets hit Dabholkar in his head and chest and he died on the spot.

In 1989, Dabholkar had founded Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), a committee meant to eradicate superstition in Maharashtra. He had faced several threats and assaults since 1983 but had rejected police protection. Triggered by his murder on August 20, 2013, the pending Anti-Superstition and Black Magic Ordinance was promulgated in the state of Maharashtra, four days later. The next year, in 2014, he was posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for social work.

In August 2015, Central Bureau of Investigation and Maharashtra government announced a Rs2.5 million (Dh143,449) award for any person providing information regarding Narendra Dabholkar’s assailants.

Similar is the case of MM Kalburgi. He was an Indian scholar of Vachana literature and academic who served as vice-chancellor of Kannada University in Hampi. Kalburgi was a progressive voice among Lingayat, a caste group dominating Karnataka state politics. He came under criticism from his lingayat community of Karnataka, after he was accused of making “derogatory references” to Basava, a 12th-century philosopher who is revered by the community.

In 2014, he had spoken against superstitions in Hinduism, which some people misinterpreted as being against idolatry in Hinduism. Following which a case was registered on the basis of a private complaint by an individual against Kalburgi for hurting religious sentiments. Kalburgi was shot dead in the morning of August 30, 2015 at his residence in Dharwad district of Karnataka by two unidentified men. The case remained unsolved.

Likewise, journalist-activist Govind Pansare, who was the author of best selling Marathi language biography of 17th century ruler Shivaji — Shivaji Kon Hota, was attacked on February 16, 2015 by gun-wielding assailants. He died from his wounds on February 20.

Besides his writing, Pansare used to run an organisation which encouraged inter-caste marriages. He had opposed the Putrakameshti yajna (special prayers performed in Hinduism for the sake of having a male child). He had protested toll taxes. Pansare had also criticised the glorification of Nathuram Godse, the man who killed Father of Indian Nation Mahatama Gandhi.

Police could not find any evidence against Sameer Gaikwad, main accused in the case. Hence, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) decided not to file a petition seeking custody of Gaikwad. The investigations are still pending.