Right to information (RTI) activist Pankaj Kumar was active in denouncing the activities of the sand mining trade in the Bihar state. He had initiated a massive movement against the sand mafia in Paliganj sub-division through social media, which brought into the limelight the nexus between corrupt officials and sand mafia. He had lodged complaints with mines and geology department against illegal sand mining at his village, Janpara in Bikram block. He had also filed several RTIs on the issue.
Police recovered the his body on 04 January 202o. SHO of Rania Talab police station Indrajeet Singh said preliminary investigations revealed that Pankaj, who had gone to his maternal aunt’s residence on 03 January 2020, did not return home. He was shot in neck from close range.
Paliganj DSP Manoj Kumar Pandey said Pankaj used to post content on his social media profile against sand-laden trucks passing through his village, much to the inconvenience of common people and school children.
While the police officials said a probe has been launched to apprehend the unidentified accused, social activists and Kumar’s peers suspect the role of sand mafia in the murder.
Sources:
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rti-activist-found-murdered-in-patna/story-Vi6Umalo635qtnRoS1XxYN.html (06 Jan. 2020)
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/sand-mining-complainant-shot-in-patna/articleshowprint/73103079.cms (5 Jan. 2020)