10 years of Naushad Kashimji murder case: A crime that made the victim immortal, inspired several
While gunning down Mangaluru-based lawyer Naushad Kashimji on April 9, 2009, his killers must have thought that this act would strike terror within the activists fighting for social justice and human rights and one particular community, especially amongst its youth. That it would deter those who’d dare to follow in the footsteps of their dearly loved lawyer – instilling in them the fear of an untimely and abrupt end. But, Naushad’s death seems to have worked to achieve the opposite, as 10 years into his killing, many youngsters are on their way to fight for justice, or to become a Naushad in their own right.
Mangaluru: On the eve of April 9, 2009, one of the most prominent criminal lawyers of the town Naushad Kashimji was gunned down at his apartment’s basement in Falnir of Mangaluru.
Naushad, hailing from coastal town of Bhatkal and practicing law in Mangaluru, was a human rights lawyer who regularly contested against social injustice and police atrocities and hence raised to prominence in the profession at a very young age much like his senior advocate Purushottam Poojary who trained him.
At the time of his murder Naushad was handling the case of Abdul Rasheed Hassan (Malbari) wherein he had opposed the police custody as sought by Ullal police. According to Purushottam Poojary this was the flashpoint of Naushad’s murder as he named four police officers as accused of the murder in a complaint. Purushottam claimed that Naushad had informed about threats he received by the police officers on the day of his murder. The court however did not consider the allegations and quashed it.
Several NGOs, Lawyers’ fraternity, his community men in Bhatkal all joined in to protest against the brutal murder, which had in many ways changed things in the coastal Karnataka.
Years after the legal struggle of Purushottam Poojary, Advocate Sameer Kashimji (Naushad’s brother) and Advocate Nusrath Jahan (wife of Naushad Kashimji) Mangaluru Sessions Court in November 2015 convicted five people in the case and handed life imprisonment to three of them and seven years rigorous imprisonment to the other two, while the look-out for mastermind of the murder Ravi Poojary continued.
The Karnataka High court in August 2018, acquitted all the five citing lack of concrete evidence in the case.
Ten years after the murder Naushad brother Sameer and Naushad’s wife Nusrath Jahan continue to practice law in Mangaluru, while Purushottam Poojary passed away in May 2014.
A decade later Sameer feels his brother’s sacrifice did not go waste and it is paying off. Speaking to Vartha Bharati on Tuesday, April 9 Sameer did not speak about the emotional aspect of the murder of his brother but stressed upon the change it has brought in the society.
“Naushad fought against social injustice and police atrocities. And his murder was shocking for everybody who cares about human rights. His murder brought in a lot of change in the society and mindset of youngsters as several students started adventuring into legal profession to work like Naushad did. They all want to become Naushad, they all dream and aspire of serving the society. That is something I look at and feel that the sacrifices he made is reaping fruits for the betterment of society. We need more such lawyers in this profession who can fight for the suppressed people. And if not after Naushad’s murder I don’t really think the numbers (especially in the Bhatkal community) of young lawyers would increase over the years” Sameer said.
“It’s been ten years now and yes it is still disturbing at the personal front for all of us” Sameer added.
Sameer says there are several others in his home town who want to practice law like Naushad. In short, for those who conspired to see Naushad dead, he might be long dead and gone. But for dozens of Muslim youth across the country, Naushad abhi bhi zinda hai (Naushad is still alive). His community has proudly given him the status of Shaheed (Martryr) and Naushad lives to inspire them.
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13 lakh litres of 'Rail Neer' supplied to train passengers daily: Government
New Delhi (PTI): Approximately 13 lakh litres of packaged drinking water -- 'Rail Neer' -- are being supplied to train passengers across the railway network daily, the government informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday.
Apprising the Lower House about the Indian Railways' endeavour to provide safe and potable drinking water facilities at all stations, the government also provided zone-wise details of the water vending machines (WVMs) installed there.
"To ensure the quality of drinking water being made available at the railway stations, instructions exist for periodical checking and required corrective action to be taken.
"Regular inspection and maintenance of drinking water facilities is carried out and complaints are attended to promptly," Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said while responding to a question raised by BJP MP Anup Sanjay Dhotre seeking to know the supply of drinking water at railway stations across the country
"Complaints regarding deficiency in services, including water supply, are received through various channels such as public complaints, web portals, social media, etc. These complaints are received at various levels, including the Railway Board, zonal railways, division office, etc.," Vaishnaw said.
"The complaints so received are forwarded to the concerned wings of Railways and necessary action is taken to check and address them. As receipt of such complaints and action taken thereon is a continuous and dynamic process, a centralised compendium of these is not maintained," he added.
Providing zone-wise details of water vending machines, the minister said 954 such machines have been installed across railway stations.
"The Indian Railways also provides safe and affordable packaged drinking water bottles -- Rail Neer -- approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) in trains and at stations," Vaishnaw said.
"Approximately, 13 lakh litres of Rail Neer are being supplied per day to the travelling passengers in trains and at stations across the Indian Railways network," he added.
