And.... Back To Square One!

20 days... 20 tumultuous days of non-stop protests, and the stories of the rise of the Indian Young generation.  20 days replete with hope, with genuine hope that the younger lot can force a change in the direction that our nation is taking... 20 days. Yet again, for the third time in three years. the people of India, expressing dissatisfaction with their lot, and with the bureaucrats and politicians around them, the people of India held centre stage...

And then: this happens. 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Girl-molested-abducted-in-public-view/Article1-984181.aspx

An excerpt: "What is more astonishing is that even though the victim was kidnapped after being molested in public view, the UP police booked the accused under a milder Section 294 (obscene act in any public place) of the IPC as opposed to pressing kidnapping and molestation charges. Due to this, the car driver, identified as one Javed, and his accomplices Sagar and Aashu got bail, said a police officer. And when contacted, none of the senior officers of the UP Police knew anything about the case"

A girl is kidnapped; a manhunt is launched... and the charges? Obscene act in a public place! If kidnapping is an obscene act, I would like to ask the Indian Police just what is their definition of a serious offence? Is kidnapping the equal of jaywalking? What bullshit is going on here? And note the lackadaisical response of the police forces...  

Also note how this news is absent from the newpapers headlines; you can barely spot it in the single newspaper that has reported it. The papers have moved on to Salman Khurshid, India-Pakistan series etc. There is not even a small link below the main news of the chargesheeting of the delhi rapists. This news lies buried in the smaller links somewhere. Meantime, the nation also is showing signs of moving on... 

Nothing has changed. Nothing. 

Also note that the kidnappers are out on bail. That the police is not serious about it. Also note that this is also from Delhi (Specifically, Delhi - Ghaziabad border). That the girl was kidnapped in front of a mall. Now that, to my mind, is pretty serious. Combine these facts with the fact that the car is supposedly that of a PWD officer. Now to this lovely stew, add the spice stated above: the police pressed charges of indulging in obscene acts...

A few questions come to mind:

1. First, is the Police meant for us, or for the establishment?
2. Is is to damned easy  to circumvent the system?
3. How did the Judge grant bail?
4. Is is to bloody easy - just pick up a girl from in front of the mall?
5. How do we people feel safe in that case?
6. How can kidnapping be called an obscene act? And how can the court accept it?
7. Where is the fear of the law in this case? Even after action, there is bound to be no fear; and the poor girl is bound to feel unsafe. In a democratic country, even after police help...

It all boils down to effective policing; police seem to have become a tool of the powerful. That is the only conclusion that I can draw from this case. And if you consider just how easily the Bus Owner in the Nirbhay case circumvented the law and registered no less than 11 buses on a completely fictitious address, then this begets the question: who is the system for? The people - or the law breakers? Why has it become so easy and, indeed, so fashionable to break the law?

Yes, it does also raise social issues; but it raises far more pertinent and immediate concerns in the form of the functioning of the systems of Government. The government is simply not running for the people; even that would not be so bad. 

The single, most important point that makes it so worrisome is the complete lack of interest in the People Of India in bringing about change. We get emotional, get onto the streets: and a few days later, we are back to old ways. There is no question being asked of our attitude - nay, our criminally stupid attitude - of it does not concern me. We just dont see it as a problem. 

Just 20 days: and the main problem is all but forgotten. Bribes are still being paid, I can still see dark tinted glasses on cars etc etc. We have learnt nothing. Yes, I understand that change is a long process; but we need constant stimuli to keep acting. And this is where the Media silence is worrying. Why isnt the Media asking these very basic questions? Why is it not leading change?Why is no one talking of Police Reform? Why is the Lokpal forgotten? Why is black money forgotten? Unless all of us get together, change will remain a chimera...

A dream of a never-never land.... one that we want to bring about. 

Meantime, we are...

Back To Square One. I-Me-Myself...

 Only ray of hope: PCR functioned, the public called to the PCR, and they responded fast. But the fast response did not include booking the culprits as kidnappers... Why?