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 Wed,28 Jul 2010
 
Green activist condemns Guj activist’s murder
HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times
Email Author
Mumbai, July 28, 2010
 
A week after environment activist Amit Jethva was shot dead in Gujarat, city-based green activists on Tuesday decided to write to the prime minister condemning the murder and inaction in cases involving attacks on activists. “Anyone can take up a cause in public interest without protection. There should be a deterrent to the attacks on RTI activists,” said Sumaira Abdulali, who was recently attacked in by the sand-mining mafia in Raigad.
 
Jethva, who had exposed illegal mining activities in the Gir Forest, was shot dead on July 20 in Ahmedabad near the Gujarat High Court.
Activists, who met at the Bombay Natural History Society, decided to run a public awareness campaign against the threat they faced. “Citizens must acknowledge that someone gave up his life to save a common property. Let there be a feeling of pride and guilt in the aam aadmi,” said Neera Punj, convenor of CitiSpace, a non-government organisation. “Put up the photographs of activists who have died," she suggested.
In January, bullets were shot at the door of the Churchgate residence of Citispace co-convenor, Nayana Kathpalia. “Authorities have not been able to deliver in terms of action. Ruffians think it is fine to continue their threat tactics,” said Kathpalia.