Activists from the Bandra-Juhu-Santacruz belt are up in arms against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, which they claim is trying to threaten them into not filing Right to Information (RTI) queries or complaints regarding irregularities.

The activists say the H-East ward office has pasted a list of 76 names outside its office in Bandra, citing that the people on the list are 'professional complainants', or 'extortionists'.

The three-page list, of which DNA has a copy, has 76 names, mostly of citizens from Bandra, Santacruz, Khar and Juhu areas. The list does not have a title, nor is it signed by any civic officer.

Repeated attempts to seek comment from Assistant Municipal Commissioner of H-East ward, Alka Sasane, yielded no response.

"Many people on the list are RTI activists or those who question civic irregularities or file complaints with the ward office. The list, put up a couple of days ago, cites us as extortionists or professional complainants. We have observes that the civic officers are not providing us the information we seek or answer our queries," said Clarence Pinto, from Kalina.

RTI activist Anil Galgali also features on the list. "I have filed only one RTI in H-East ward after which MMRDA paid dues to BMC. I had exposed the Maitri building and Reliance building's illegalities. They are indirectly threatening us that they can teach us a lesson. It is nothing but the criminal intention of the BMC officers to protect illegal work," he said.

"If BMC feels we are doing something illegal, the officers should approach the police against us. The list published is neither signed by an officer, nor does it mention any reason for why we have been named. It is to threaten us to stop raising our voice against BMC," Pinto said.

LISTING CITIZENS

The 3-page list, of which DNA has a copy, has 76 names, mostly of citizens from Bandra, Santacruz, Khar and Juhu areas. The list does not have a title, nor is it signed by any civic officer.