Khaki soaked in the blood of innocents
If democracy falls victim to an ‘autocratic’ virus, its first symptoms are seen in the police department. When the police repeatedly take law into their own hands, it should alert us about the state of the heart of our democracy – the Constitution. If the behavior of the police with the common man in various parts of the country is observed over the past five years, people are forced to question whether the police are working as protectors of the Constitution or whether they are rowdies clad in khaki uniforms. Added to this, the police are seen increasingly playing a direct role in communal riots.
Recently, in the United States, the way a white policeman caused the death of a black American by pressing his knees against the neck of the victim has triggered a wide range of reactions – intense protests and debates - across the globe. All countries including India that believe in democracy and humanity condemned the incident. American police hanged their head in shame at this incident and offered an apology. In India, however, our humanity is awakened only if Indians are subjected to racial attacks in foreign countries. But when our government subjects its citizens to atrocities, we remain largely silent but for some murmurs of protest.
When an elephant dies tragically after consuming crackers, political leaders including union ministers express their anguish and people fill social media with rage against such inhumanity. In fact, at the death of animals such as cows, peacocks, snakes, and elephants, the humanitarian facet of a certain community wakes up and tears overflow. Unfortunately, we find ourselves in deep slumber when atrocities are committed against fellow human beings as we have, in a way, for centuries given it a form of acceptance and in fact, nurtured it in the name of caste and culture. Perhaps, this is the reason why crimes against animals impact us whereas we are almost blind to the atrocities committed against our fellow human beings. Otherwise, the entire country should have by now come onto the streets and condemned the gruesome death of the father and son in police lockup in Thoothukudi in Tamil Nadu.
This incident where the father son duo who were arrested for flouting lockdown norms allegedly died due to torture in police custody is being debated extensively now. Though the mainstream media did not consider it as significant, there was an outpouring in social media against the horror by a few thinkers, social activists, and celebrities. If these people had not come out boldly to condemn the incident, the police atrocities would not have come to light. Our Constitution clearly specifies that nobody – neither the common man nor the police - can take law into their own hands. But the police have repeatedly flouted these norms by assuming the role of a judge and handing out instant justice. The violence allegedly perpetrated by the police in Thoothukudi Police Station is not just inhuman but most barbaric and gruesome and reflects the psychopathic nature of the police.
It is obvious that the cops found perverse pleasure in the death of these two innocents that occurred over a period of two days. The skin of the victims had peeled off after being beaten up using lathis. It has also come to light in the medical examination of the dead bodies that lathis were inserted into their rectum. It is said that the doctors themselves were stricken and in a state of shock seeing the state of the victims. Locals have also revealed that the cries of the victims were heard outside the police station. The two pairs of clothes that were with the victims were soaked in blood. Eventually, both died when the bleeding did not stop.
But what were the charges that the police had no choice but to resort to such murders? That they had kept their shop open beyond stipulated hours. Police took them into custody after an unsavory exchange of words that took place with the victims. What could the police have done in the given situation? They could have filed a case against the victims for flouting lockdown norms and if required, charged them with obstruction of duty. And if the police hated them so much, they could have also filed charges of attempt to murder. It is a fact that sometimes, hoodwinking the judiciary, police resort to torture to make the accused come out with the truth. In this case, however, there was no need for the police to do so. But it is obvious that the police had deep hatred towards the victims. The brazen attitude of the policemen that they can wear their khakhi uniforms even after committing such heinous murders and their criminal intent made them take the lives of these innocent victims. This is not the first time though that the Thoothukudi police have committed such an act; they also have a history of committing atrocities against a few activists. The barbaric deaths of these two innocent victims is an example of what happens if the police remain the sole custodians of law.
Due to the Coronavirus, curfew is being enforced all across the country. In normal times, curfew is imposed when the law and order situation deteriorates or during communal riots or when acts of rebellion threaten to disturb peace. But the curfew that is being imposed now due to the Coronavirus is different as there are humanitarian reasons for doing so. Violation of curfew norms, however, cannot be an excuse for the police to either resort to lathi charge or to shoot. This curfew is being imposed to create awareness among people about the pandemic but, it appears that the police are using it as a pretext to use their lathis or commit atrocities against the common man. This trend of police atrocities against the people is not seen only in Thoothukudi but in various parts of the country. But in Tamil Nadu, it took a horrific turn. A treatment for the Coronavirus might be discovered at some point, but who can treat the virus of violence and atrocities that the police department has become? Five days after the incident occurred and garnered attention at the national level, action was initiated against the cops. But a mere suspension or dismissal does not seem adequate as a punishment for the perpetrators. These murders were intentional and committed by those who have a sick mentality, and the perpetrators, on proven guilty, should be handed nothing short of death penalty. Along with this, an attempt should be made to cleanse the khakhi that is soaked in the blood of the innocents.
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Modi should leverage his ties with world leaders to de-escalate war in West Asia: Omar Abdullah
Jammu (PTI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said India can play a meaningful role in de-escalation in West Asia, given Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong relations with the warring countries and their neighbours.
He said Pakistan was leveraging ties with Iran and the United States, and that any effort towards ending the war should be welcomed.
"As I said in the House (Assembly), we would like the war to end as soon as possible. The role that the prime minister can play may not be possible for anyone else because of his good relations with all these countries," Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
He, however, said any escalation would not be easy to manage.
"Any such move by US President Donald Trump, despite the long history of Iran resisting external domination, would not be easy," the chief minister said.
Asked about Pakistan mediating in the war, he said, "I will simply say that if any country can play a role in preventing this war, no one should have any objection to it."
He added, "I will repeat what I said … our prime minister has good and close relations with all countries — whether it is Israel, the United States, Iran, or the countries around Iran. If those relationships can be used to make some progress and help ease the situation, it would be a good thing."
Abdullah said attacks by terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in India, as suggested by a report from the United States, are not unlikely.
Meanwhile, he asserted that any efforts to end the war, be it from Pakistan, must not be resisted.
"Pakistan is using its good relations with Iran and the United States to its advantage, and it has done so. How can we object to that? If that angle helps in stopping the war, would you want them not to act and let the war continue? We want the war to stop. If any country can play a role in that, it should. And if we can play an even better role, then we should do so," he said.
On unemployment in J-K, the chief minister said the issue cannot be resolved overnight, and government jobs alone are not the solution.
He stressed the need to explore alternative avenues, highlighting the importance of Mission Yuva in promoting entrepreneurship.
"Mission Yuva provides not just funding but also support in preparing DPRs and post-startup assistance, such as marketing. In just nine months, distributing Rs 1,000 crore and approving numerous schemes is a significant achievement," he said.
Abdullah credited the coordination between the government and Jammu and Kashmir Bank for the scheme's progress.
