RTI activist and whistleblower Javanthraj Parasmal was allegedly hacked to death with sickles by a gang at Periamet, Chennai.
Javanthraj Parasmal (59) had highlighted many illegal constructions in Sowcarpet. He was in possession of vigilance department files, Housing and Urban Development GOs and Madras High Court demolition orders.
Parasmal was reportedly intercepted by a group of men on bikes and an auto at about 10:30 am. One of the residents has told the daily that they heard a scream for help and saw men with sickles flee the scene. Parasmal was lying in a pool of blood and only once the group of men left, did the residents dare to come out to help the victim. However, the doctors at a private hospital declared Parasmal to be dead.
The spot was just 1.5 km away from the police commissioner’s office. Parasmal would often enter court halls and newspaper offices with his petitions. Armed with RTI replies that sought to nail lethargic or conniving officials, he would urge journalists like me to write against them.
“They are all corrupt. You should expose them,” he would urge us. He would provide affidavits presented by the officials in court and their RTI replies, highlighting the contradictions. In the last two years, at least three buildings were sealed following his intervention.
His own building in Sowcarpet was sealed in 2014 in what he termed a vindictive act.
