{
  "id": 13827825,
  "title": "As RTI Act turns 21, activists assaulted in movement’s birthplace",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/as-rti-act-turns-21-activists-assaulted-in-movements-birthplace",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T00:00:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express - India",
    "slug": "the-indian-express-india",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/india/beawar-rti-procession-activists-attacked-10917167/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On the 21st anniversary of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, activists were assaulted in Beawar, the birthplace of the movement. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near Chang Gate as a musical procession, known as the Ghotala Rath Yatra, was making its way through the town. The procession had started from Ajmeri Gate around 4:30 pm and was organized by the Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) along with some citizens.\n\nBeawar's Superintendent of Police, Ratan Singh, stated that the activists were gathering without proper permission. Police intervened when there was pushing and shoving between the activists and a local group, leading to injuries on both sides. Both groups reported the incident to the authorities, resulting in different FIRs being lodged - one based on the complaint of locals and another on the basis of the activists' complaint.\n\nMKSS alleged that women at the front of the procession were pushed and manhandled first by the attackers, who also made threatening and derogatory remarks, including \"shoot those who betray the religion.\" Among those assaulted were activists Kamal Kumar, Shubham, Kanika Kumari, Nirmala, and Sakshi. MKSS demanded immediate police action against the perpetrators and protection for the victims, emphasizing the need for impartial investigation, registration of complaints, and accountability under the law.\n\nAruna Roy, Nikhil Dey, Mukesh Goswami, and Kamal Kumar, prominent activists, condemned the attack, stating that the right to peacefully assemble, question corruption, and exercise freedom of expression is fundamental to democracy. They emphasized that such violence aims to silence citizens exercising these rights. The Ghotala Rath Yatra, a satirical musical procession highlighting corruption, has been a part of the RTI movement for nearly three decades.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Activists assaulted in Beawar on RTI Act's 21st anniversary",
    "Police intervened amid pushing, shoving between activists and locals",
    "MKSS demands police action, impartial investigation for victims"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The assault on activists during a satirical procession highlights the growing physical risks faced by citizens attempting to use transparency tools to challenge corruption and exercise their democratic rights.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "As RTI Act turns 21, activists assaulted in movement’s birthplace",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/as-rti-act-turns-21-activists-assaulted-in-movements-birthplace-13832242",
        "published": "2026-10-12T00:00:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}