Saturday, April 20, 2013

Police Brutality-Aligarh


In one of my previous post had mentioned about the officers who were killed for doing their job, you can read it here.

Today I look at the other end. I am disturbed, aghast at the misuse of power. Power corrupts. It probably also numbs our empathy. Look at the video below to understand what i am talking about...


Where does such brutality come from? What happens to our brain under pressure? What happens to all the rational thoughts when confronted? 

Have heard and read about more brutal and heinous acts by people in power. There is no justification whatsoever for such brutal acts. 

Empathy gets killed as one tastes power for a long period. 

If i have to feel empathy for the police force what would it take? Are they frustrated to such extent in their job? Do they feel powerless and helpless most of the time as they have to deal with criminals and corrupt politicians? 
Guess they are under great stress for not being able to do their duty. All police officers probably join to help the society. To get rid of the ills and keep crime away. But soon they realize the difference between what they aspired to do and what they can probably do. Few try to be upright and fight the criminalization of the system but end up as martyrs. Few smart ones probably balance the act. I am conjuring all this !!
But the majority are underpaid, frustrated and hate themselves for not being true to their dreams. They loathe themselves for being corrupt. This frustration is let out on the hapless beings like women and children.

Let me reiterate, whatever may be the reason, they do not have the right to trample the rights of another human being. Brutality of any degree is unacceptable from anybody on anybody.

How do we build a society which feels and shows compassion? How do we ensure empathy is converted into concrete actions?

How do we educate ourselves and our children that under pressure, under attack we are not to hurt the helpless, weak. If we have to win battles, it is to be against the strong. 

Friday, April 05, 2013

Why We Fail!! Honesty. Officers Killed For Doing Their Duty.

I used to be a fan of market dynamics. A theory that markets corrects itself over a period of time. I used to believe that human beings are rational.
Behavioral economics and self-reflection have shattered these thoughts. We are not rational. We misplace our anger and misdirect our efforts. Brain is structured like that!!
A year back "Anna Hazare" had great sway and we all responded with great vigor. Today Anna is no more in scene. Kejriwal has separated from Anna. Politicians have cleverly used "Divide and Rule" to nullify this emerging force which had got united in the name of corruption.
Such is our nature that we disregard the individuals who are doing honest, good work. Some have also been killed in the process. They get a brief mention. The media does not highlight them!! Public do not make candle light marches or hold dharnas. Let me illustrate with the following examples.

1. Ashok Khemka-apparently a honest civil servant gets transferred again. So far at least no hue and cry. He brought to light the dealings between DLF and Robert Vadra.  http://www.indianexpress.com/news/ias-officer-ashok-khemka-transferred-again-after-robert-vadra-row/1097699/

2. Zia-Ul-haq-got murdered. He was an IPS officer. Professorial hazard!! He dared to work.
http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/murdered-up-cop-zia-ul-haque-had-prepared-list-of-cases-against-raja-bhaiya-340648

3. Sand and mining mafia routinely kill officers. "March 09, 2012: A young IPS officer of the 2009 batch, Narendra Kumar, posted in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, was brutally crushed to death under a stone-laden tractor trolley belonging to the illegal mining mafia.
The ghastly killing happened in Banmur industrial town, when the officer, who was on patrol in his official jeep, noticed a tractor-trolley loaded with stones following which he overtook it and signalled the driver to stop it.


June 11, 2012: A policeman was killed in Faridabad when truck loaded with sand allegedly ran over him. The incident was suspected to be the work of sand mafia in the area. The constable Mahaveer Singh was run over by the dumper truck after he tried to stop it near Palla chowk. The cop was on nakabandi duty following a tip-off about the sand mafia.


December 11, 2012: Paulose Thomas, an expert consultant for the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), was found dead in his apartment in Coimbatore. His family was first told that he had suffered a cardiac arrest. Then they were informed that he had hanged himself. But the autopsy report ruled out suicide or cardiac arrest, confirming a case of murder instead. Police are yet to identify any irregularities in the NHAI road widening project which the victim was engaged in.


4. Yaswant Sonawane, the additional district collector of Nashik district in Maharashtra, was burnt to death for exposing oil adulteration mafia. If the country is shocked, students are anguished. They want to know how can a common man dare to report a crime when this is the fate of a gazetted officer.


Few years back had mentioned about Manjunath, here it is http://rangdeindia.blogspot.in/2006/03/remembering-manjunath.html

We are not bothered about the rape of mother earth. We hardly acknowledge heroes who try to protect us and mother earth.

I am also a culprit. I am also responsible for inaction, apathy.  Need to act. Cannot wait for "The Invisible Hand" to correct things.