Hyderabad, October 09: K Balagopal, who was at the forefront of the human rights movement in Andhra Pradesh for over a quarter of a century, is no more.
He died here tonight following a heart attack.
Around 9:45 p.m., the 57-year-old experienced discomfort at his home in Priya Colony, Mehdipatnam, on account of incessant hiccups, and this was shortly accompanied by chest pain. He was rushed to a hospital in the vicinity but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Friends and acquaintances rushed over on receiving the news.
Balagopal is survived by his wife, Vasanta Lakshmi, a journalist, and son, Prabhata, an Intermediate student.
A social scientist, Balagopal was the most visibl e civil rights activist in the State, taking up varied issues, from the killing of Naxalites in fake ‘‘encounters’’ and the arrest of villagers on the pretext that they gave shelter or food to Maoists, to the plight of those displaced by Special Economic Zones.
A brilliant mathematician, Balagopal began his career as a teacher in Warangal but soon turned full-time human rights activist. Along with another well-known civil libertarian, KG Kannabiran, he led the AP State Civil Liberties Committee (APCLC) for many years. Later, he floated the Human Rights Forum (HRF).
Balagopal was arrested several times (and was once even kidnapped by Green Tigers, a self-styled outfit — allegedly supported by the police) during the course of his long innings as a civil liberties activist when he toured almost every part of the State championing the cause of the poor and those oppressed by the state machinery.
A decade ago, Balagopal took a legal turn, so to speak. He became a lawyer and fought hundreds of cases in both the High Court and lower courts on behalf of the poor, without charging a paisa. He was among those who argued before the High Court that cases be booked against policemen in every instance of ‘‘encounter’’ death and a bench concurred with the view.
The sudden demise of Balagopal came as a shock to a large number of his admirers and civil libertarians.
Prof G Haragopal, Balagopal’s long-time associate, described him as an uncommon personality.
The void created by his untimely demise cannot be filled, he said. Other rights activists like Varavara Rao conveyed their condolences to the bereaved family and recounted their association with Balagopal who they said symbolised the struggle for civil liberties.
–Agencies–