Civil rights activist Balagopal passes away

Hyderabad, Oct 9 (PTI) India's noted civil rights
activist K Balagopal died of a cardiac arrest at a hospital
here in Hyderabad (the capital of India's southern state of
Andhra Pradesh), his family said Friday.

Balagopal (57) was taken to the hospital at Mehidipatnam
in the city Thursday night where he breathed his last while
undergoing treatment.

Born in Anantapur district of the state, Balagopal worked
in Kakatiya University as a professor but turned to practising
law nearly a decade ago.

He broke away from the Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberties
committee, with which he had been associated since its
inception in the 1980's, following differences and founded the
Human Rights Forum to fight for human rights and civil
liberties.

He argued for hundreds of cases of human rights violation
and encounter killings as an advocate.

His funeral would take place Friday evening.

Balagopal is survived by his wife and a son.

Several human rights activists and political leaders
have condoled the activist's death. PTI