One more arrested in Odisha RTI activist murder case

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Feb 8:

The police have arrested one more accused in the murder case of Krupasindhu Sahu of Nacchigaan village under Niali police limits in Odisha’s Cuttack district, who was allegedly killed for seeking information under the RTI on irregularities committed by the Agriculture department in his area.

The arrested has been identified as Premananda Sahu but the prime accused in the case is still at large, police said.

With today’s arrest, the police has so far arrested four persons in the case. It had earlier arrested the mother, sister and nephew of the prime accused in the case.

Krupasindhu, a farmer of Nachhigan village of Krushnaprasad Panchayat under Niali police station in Cuttack district, was allegedly bumped off for exposing large scale corruption in the implementation of the BGREI scheme in the area.

The body of Sahu, who had sought information from the district agriculture officer (DEO) about the details of money and fertilizer utilized in the plantation of paddy saplings under the BGREI scheme through the Right to Information (RTI) Act, was found on January 31 buried under a bridge on the banks of Taanla river, five days after he went missing.

The Congress has announced to gherao the Assembly on February 18 if the killers of Sahu are not arrested before that date.

The Assembly Saturday witnessed ruckus over the issue during Zero Hour as Congress and BJP members sought a reply from the Chief Minister on the issue. The Speaker gave a ruling to the government asking the Chief Minister to give a statement on the issue on Monday.