RTI Activist hacked to death in Chennai, he was exposing building violations

RTI activist J Parasmal (58) was hacked to death by a gang of four on Baker Street at Periamet in Chennai on Wednesday.

He had exposed various building violations and illegal power connections in Sowcarpet, reported in Times of India.

The incident happened at 10:30am when he was on his way to his office, police told TOI. He was surrounded by the gang in auto and two bikes. On seeing them, he began running but was chased down and killed with cleavers and sickles. He was found in a pool of blood.

Some people in Periamet called the police and he was taken to a private hospital and late taken to government general hospital where he was declared dead.

A police officer told TOI, “We have obtained the registration number of the auto in which the killers came. We are also scanning surveillance camera images to establish their identity.”

Parasmal is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Preliminary investigations show that his activism might be the reason for his murder. 

His own office building in Sowcarpet was sealed in 2014 by the Chennai corporation officials. He had exposed about five illegal buildings in Sowcarpet. He was primarily into consulting and financing automobiles.

Parasmal would often visit court halls and newspaper offices with his petitions. He would obtain documents on corruption in various state government departments, mainly in Greater Chennai Corporation and Tangedco. Other than court orders, most of the documents he sourced were from RTIs.