Re: News: Police fire on mob. 11 killed.

["Arjun Sen" <arjunsen@bom3.vsnl.net.in>]

I think the Friday problem began more as a social problem rather than a
distinct political problem. Look at the frustration, the major difficulties
in eking out a decent living, the constant harassment and what not, among
this sector of unfortunate citizens in our country. What has anybody done
for them? The Government provides free education. Look at the quality of
education, the environment in which this education is imparted in the
Municipal schools, and one does not become surprised at the large number of
drop outs. Coupled with the very necessity of somehow making ends meet and
doing any job that can pay whatever can be obtained, education to them is
secondary.

Dr. Ambedkar, was possibly the only one who recognized them and gave them
something to look up at. The Republican Party to which most owe their
allegiance, is a rudderless splintered group. These citizens have really
nothing to look forward to. In such a situation when one finds, his own
father, so to say, abused, can any one keep his cool? I do subscribe at any
time, that what started off at Ghatkopar that Friday, was right. But those
frustrated citizens must have lost their cool and took out on the policemen
who should have been providing security and not allowing the statue to be
abused, in the first instance. Press reports say that a police 'chowky'
exists adjacent to the statute. Where were the police that morning?

What happened thereafter, is pure and simple another instance of being
trigger happy. Whoever among the police gave the order to fire, did so
without even thinking of the repercussions that could follow.
Unfortunately, our police have a habit of using the same yardstick that
they use on criminal 'encounters' on every one. This is another instance
when lack of basic training resulted in shooting to kill and the
unfortunate loss of precious lives.

What turned out thereafter, on Friday and through Saturday, in Bombay and
probably elsewhere in the State and hopefully not elsewhere in the country,
is nothing but anger at the way things were handled. Reading the various
press reports, I do not think that the immediate firing that the police
resorted to on that fateful Friday was called for. Reading between the
lines in the press reports of the police statements itself shows that
probably there could have been other avenues which should have been used to
quell the riot.

For the Government, they should see in this incidence a social problem and
tackle it from that stage and not make it a political issue. Not only the
ruling party, but all of the opposition should join together in tackling
this social problem and give themselves a long term commitment. To the
police, they must accept that every incidence is not an 'encounter' where
you shoot to kill. Down the line, police require constant training in
tackling every type of situation and tackling human beings as human beings.
I suppose our police academy does impart training on human values and
leadership. Unfortunately, in the Friday incidence, lack of human values
and leadership cost so much loss of life, hardship that may never be
overcome. There is a talk of a Maharashtra 'bundh' for Monday. I hope this
will be the end and not lead to further problems. The Government should
step in and cool feathers, not by just promises but by action and a long
term commitment to these citizens.

A. SEN.

----------
> From: Harshal Chhaya <hchhaya@epsilon.pair.com>
> To: nukkad-list@mumbai-central.com
> Cc: VJTI EC '93 <vjti-ec93@meera.ece.ucsb.edu>; Prasad
<ppk@prairiecomm.com>; Rahul Gupte <Rahul_Gupte@clr.com>; Gopi
Sethumadhavan <sethgop@charlie.cns.iit.edu>; Raman <raman@ece.iit.edu>;
Dibyendu Nandy <dnandy@eecs.uic.edu>
> Subject: News: Police fire on mob. 11 killed.
> Date: 11 July 1997 20:46
> 
> 
> 
> This just in...
> 
> More details at
<http://www.yahoo.com/headlines/970711/international/stories/india_8.html>
> 
> - 'shal
> 
> 
> [Fri Jul 11]
> Police Fire on Mob in India, 11 Killed
> 
> By Dev Varam 
> 
> BOMBAY (Reuter) - At least 11 people including two children were killed 
> when police fired on a crowd protesting against the desecration of a
social 
> activist's statue in India's commercial capital on Friday, eyewitnesses
and 
> hospital sources said. 
> 
> Demonstrators accused police of indiscriminate firing during what they
said 
> was an orderly protest. Police said they were provoked during the
incident at 
> Ghatkopar, 10 miles from Bombay's city centre. 
> 
> [snip..]
> 
> The dead included an 11-year old boy and a 12-year old girl -- both
apparently 
> bystanders -- and an old woman. 
> 
> Twenty-five were wounded and treated in hospital. 
> 
> Hospital authorities put the death toll at 11 while police said it was
four. 
> 
> Police said trouble started when a statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar, a revered 
> leader of the lower social classes, was found garlanded with shoes,
viewed as 
> a insulting gesture. 
> 
> When police reached the scene a crowd of Ambedkar supporters who had 
> surrounded the statue pelted them with stones, police said. 
> 
> 
> [snip..]
> 
> Residents said at least four vehicles were set ablaze in the rioting --
but 
> all of them after the police opened fire. 
> 
> Police in riot gear patrolled the streets amidst isolated incidents after
the 
> initial rioting. 
> 
> Authorities closed the busy highway near the statue, causing traffic
jams. 
> 
> Ambedkar, known as the father of India's constitution, is treated like a 
> god by the lower social classes in India's rigid Hindu caste system. 
> -- 
>       http://www.mumbai-central.com  <-- Creating a Bombay without
borders
> 
>
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