Slain RTI activist’s kin seek crowdfunding to fight case

Mangaluru: The family of slain RTI activist Vinayak Baliga have decided to go for crowdfunding, to meet the expenses to fight the case.
The murder trial of Baliga, who was hacked to death in front of his house in the city on March 21, 2016, will commence on Monday, with a special public prosecutor appointed by the government, as per the request by Baliga’s family. Senior advocate S Balakrishnan has been appointed by the government, as the special public prosecutor, as requested by Baliga’s sister Anuradha Baliga, and the expenses will have to be borne by the family. Hence, the family has been appealing for donations, to meet the expenses.
The government, in an order, has appointed advocate S Balakrishna to appear as the special public prosecutor in the Baliga murder case, as per Section 24(8) of the CrPC. The trial of the case pertaining to the murder of Baliga, will begin at the sixth additional district and sessions court here. The government has directed Anuradha Baliga to meet all the expenses towards compensation, to the special public prosecutor.
Anuradha Baliga told TOI that the trial of the case will begin on Sunday.
“We will have to bear the entire expenses towards the compensation of a special public prosecutor. We have raised a crowdfunding request, seeking contributions towards the cause, and many have responded. It may require several lakhs of rupees, and hence we have decided to go in for crowdfunding,” she said.
Sisters of Baliga, Anuradha and Harsha, with the support of Deshapremi Sanghatanegala Okkoota, a like-minded organisation led by rationalist Narendra Nayak, president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), DYFI state president Muneer Katipalla and others, have been holding protest meets and processions on March 21 every year. Brinda Karat, member, politbureau of the CPM, had visited the house of Baliga on March 21 this year.