"Ashok Todi in his recorded statement to the CBI has recounted how after meeting Gyanwant Singh (then deputy commissioner of police, headquarters) on September 4, he was resigned to his daughter not returning home, when he got a feeler from Pappu."
This is from
How deals were struck behind Rizwanur's back - Who got cash & how much
DEVADEEP PUROHIT, IMRAN AHMED SIDDIQUI AND ZEESHAN JAWED
The Telegraph Investigation
published on November 19, 2007.
I think the least they could have done was - well, what they have done. They might have written something to take back all the blame so far heaped on Mr. Gyanwant Singh. They might have written a short paragraph on how it is pretty clear from their ‘investigation' that Mr. Singh did not take any steps to coerce Priyanka to separate herself from Rizwanur. They might have clarified that Mr. Singh had not interfered with a couple's personal life when the girl's father sought help from him to separate the two. Instead, they have printed a single sentence, almost as an afterthought. Good beginning, I am inclined to say. This is more than what could have been expected of The Telegraph. If the authors of the article are reading this post: Thank You - and congratulations on showing a tacit inclination at ethical reporting.
As far as the ‘investigation' is concerned, I'll wait for the CBI report.
Showing posts with label Rizwanur. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rizwanur. Show all posts
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Letters
trying to understand this myself: there are too many mention of letters and replies, late or otherwise; this one is from Rizwan and Priyanka:
dated 3/9/07, addressed to DCDD, received by his office, CC to Commissioner of Police, AC, ARS, DC Spl, DC South, OC, Karaya PS.
NO MENTION OF DC HQ
and this is the letter from DC HQ Gyanwant Singh's office, signed 'for' him.
there are two dates in the letter: dated 10/9/07,
signed NOT ON THE SAME DATE... looks like a zero to begin with:
what day is that? 05? the day after Mr. Singh had talked to Priyanka and her parents? perhaps even Rizwanur? and who signed 'for' him?
and this letter is in response to Rizwan's letter dated 30/8/07 regarding 'information regarding marriage registration' -
Right. So we dont have here - or I dont have here the letter that must have been addressed to Mr. Singh on 30/8/07 informing him of the marriage.
In any case, let us examine the present document. it says that Rizwan's letter / case has been
At the bottom left, handwritten, 'Copy to S.P (South 24 Pgns)'.
I am not sure if Mr. Siddhinath Gupta is still the SP, but whoever it is, surely has a copy of the letter. and maybe i have missed it in the deluge of information that we are receiving these days, the SP's reactions - if any, must have been recorded as well.
(from The Telegraph, Calcutta, September 23)
That letter obviously, This is not. Prinaka has NOT 'prefixed “Mrs” to her signature on the letter'.
Other than that, the point here is, and I am glad others have noticed too, people who i have never seen in my life - that the media is more interested in crucifying Gyanwant than finding out the truth. Now dont point fingers at me, dont call me obsessed. i am only referring to what the media has been doing. no other replies to Rizwanur's letter is being talked about. Ajay Kumar's reply is not being talked about. even the letter that brought this reply from Gyanwant's office is not being discussed or published. Please look at the following comment:
if anyone wishes to verify if this comment was created for my benefit by me, please leave a comment and your e-mail id, and i shall be happy to send you proof that this is by a real person, 51 years old, an employee of ICF International... i asked for his permission to publish his comment along with his orkut page id, and this is what he scrapped back:
there are others too, and hardly any need to drag them in here, because we are not holding a poll. i am trying to show you something, and if you are willing to notice, you will notice. if not, then no amount of testimony, real or otherwise, can convince you.
as a sort of subscript directed towards a fellow blogger who found certain comments i had quoted disturbing, here's something to chew on:
His last film before being brutally murdered in mysterious circumstances – a crime which remains unsolved to this day - was based on de Sade’s “Salo” and he portrays the brutality and masochism of the upper classes and the aristocracy.
This is on Pasolini. i did not want to explain Sadique's comment in my own words. but looks like he was getting at something significant, doesnt it?
dated 3/9/07, addressed to DCDD, received by his office, CC to Commissioner of Police, AC, ARS, DC Spl, DC South, OC, Karaya PS.
NO MENTION OF DC HQ
and this is the letter from DC HQ Gyanwant Singh's office, signed 'for' him.
there are two dates in the letter: dated 10/9/07,
signed NOT ON THE SAME DATE... looks like a zero to begin with:
what day is that? 05? the day after Mr. Singh had talked to Priyanka and her parents? perhaps even Rizwanur? and who signed 'for' him?
and this letter is in response to Rizwan's letter dated 30/8/07 regarding 'information regarding marriage registration' -
Right. So we dont have here - or I dont have here the letter that must have been addressed to Mr. Singh on 30/8/07 informing him of the marriage.
In any case, let us examine the present document. it says that Rizwan's letter / case has been
forwarded to the undermentioned officer /departmenton the ground of jurisdiction fordisposal/ necessary action.
Further correspondences in that matter, if necessary, should in future be addressed to that officer direct.
At the bottom left, handwritten, 'Copy to S.P (South 24 Pgns)'.
I am not sure if Mr. Siddhinath Gupta is still the SP, but whoever it is, surely has a copy of the letter. and maybe i have missed it in the deluge of information that we are receiving these days, the SP's reactions - if any, must have been recorded as well.
The computer graphics teacher who lived at Tiljala had written to the civil rights organisation: “We submitted letter of information of our marriage at the office of the commissioner of police, DC south div- ision, OC-Karaya police station, OC-Entally police station, OC-Bidhannagar police station and SP North 24-Parganas. The stamped received copies of all these letters are attached.”
All the officers, including the police chief, sent their acknowledgements by August 31. Deputy commissioner (headquarters) Gyanwant Singh admitted receiving the letter “regarding information about your marriage registration” in a missive dated September 5.
The couple had enclosed copies of their marriage registration and birth certificates in their letter. “This is for your information that we got married under the special marriage act at the office of the marriage officer Shipra Ghosh on 18 August, 2007. The copy of our marriage certificate is being enclosed…. The marriage was performed with our own wish and not under the influence of any external pressure.”
Apprehending trouble, they wrote: “We are presuming that our father-in-law/father, Ashok Kumar Todi, may threaten us with dire consequences or create pressure or can send anti-socials or goondas to kidnap us. In view of this, we hope to get protection from your end, if required.”
Priyanka prefixed “Mrs” to her signature on the letter.
(from The Telegraph, Calcutta, September 23)
That letter obviously, This is not. Prinaka has NOT 'prefixed “Mrs” to her signature on the letter'.
I am inviting comments, clarifications especially on this issue: the letters, where are they, what do they say, am i missing something? a lot? please contribute.
Other than that, the point here is, and I am glad others have noticed too, people who i have never seen in my life - that the media is more interested in crucifying Gyanwant than finding out the truth. Now dont point fingers at me, dont call me obsessed. i am only referring to what the media has been doing. no other replies to Rizwanur's letter is being talked about. Ajay Kumar's reply is not being talked about. even the letter that brought this reply from Gyanwant's office is not being discussed or published. Please look at the following comment:
Two days ago we were discussing the next pit stop in the sad circus called Rizwanur " Parda phaash"...( Star Anando title not mine)... and yday this same channel was busy dissecting priyankas change of statement from her letter of 3rd sept to DCDD1 - Ajoy Kumar.. informing them that if any thing happened to them her father ashok todi shud beheld responsible...star anando also seems to have a thing abt gyanwant singh... when from bytes its pretty clear that wellwishers of the Rehman family tok the couple to see gyanwant, who by all acountstreated them well, star anando is hell bent on making him the villian of the piece by calling him the mastermind...just sad
if anyone wishes to verify if this comment was created for my benefit by me, please leave a comment and your e-mail id, and i shall be happy to send you proof that this is by a real person, 51 years old, an employee of ICF International... i asked for his permission to publish his comment along with his orkut page id, and this is what he scrapped back:
i started this out in order to see that honest police officers dont become the fall gus, for as u said gyanwant is a human being first and foremost and a police officer next... im more than happy and willing to join you in whatever you plan wherever you plan to redeem agood mans name. so plzgo ahead and more power to your arm as they say..best of luck
there are others too, and hardly any need to drag them in here, because we are not holding a poll. i am trying to show you something, and if you are willing to notice, you will notice. if not, then no amount of testimony, real or otherwise, can convince you.
as a sort of subscript directed towards a fellow blogger who found certain comments i had quoted disturbing, here's something to chew on:
His last film before being brutally murdered in mysterious circumstances – a crime which remains unsolved to this day - was based on de Sade’s “Salo” and he portrays the brutality and masochism of the upper classes and the aristocracy.
Pier Paolo Pasolini: POET, WRITER, THINKER, date of access October 27, 2007,<URL=http://www.1worldfilms.com/bio-passolini.htm>
This is on Pasolini. i did not want to explain Sadique's comment in my own words. but looks like he was getting at something significant, doesnt it?
Pasolini/Salo image courtesy: <URL=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/salo/clubcut.html>, <URL=http://www.bfi.org.uk/features/salo/foreword.html> accessed on Oct 27, 2007.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Gyanwant Singh: life is here indeed
i've been wondering, that FAQ entry of mine contained a question which is pretty significant:
i think i have found out.
the public has not noticed because they are too emotional right now, and that state does not necessarily require one to be perceptive.
some have decided to treat the incident as a whole, that is, they have generalized according to their own ideology, namely,
police is bad, gyanwant is police, never mind what he has done specifically, they are all bad, they have to be, and this is a simple case of abuse of a Public Institution.
still others, the few who have been following all this and trying to get to the bottom of things, HAVE CERTAINLY NOTICED.
they have simply not publicized it.
there can be no other answer.
because the scene that i have been dealing with is incredibly simple. it is just not possible that i am the only intelligent person around.
lets classify these people:
the media: they have found a way to keep the flame of sales alive. in their shameless profit making scheme they have at least ensured that the case stays in the public eye. perhaps this will force an investigation after all.
the police: it would be erroneous to assume that the police is a big chunk of a body. it, like any other organization/institution, has its building blocks and segments, and yes, factions. i would be very surprised if Gyanwant were popular in every segment of this particular organization. as far as i see it, he is the anomoly, and as such, to be feared and, if possible, segregated, and definitely to be pounced upon whenever the opportunity might present itself.
the CID: i have been known to be arrogant, egoistic, and generally too full of myself; - all true, but even i cannot be so arrogant as to believe that the CID has not noticed or investigated what the press has deliberately ignored, and what i have been trying to point out. this of course leads us to the inevitable conclusion of vested interests. the commissioner did not exactly behave like a policeman, either good or bad. as someone very close to me pointed out, he spoke like a dominating office boss and patriarch combined. that is not necessarily bad. it is plain stupid. and it is probably going to cost him his seat. and if he has made that blunder, then it makes sense to cash in on it. someone is going to sit in his seat sometime. i wonder who that is, and if there is any betting going on over that. Gyanwant, if removed from the block of suspicious elements weakens the block so that people are not dead sure anymore that it is THE POLICE who has done certain things. they are no longer able to condemn en masse ALL the people whose names are connected with the case. this makes their suspension / transfer and in general, REMOVAL FROM POWER that much difficult. the existing rank holders are holding their ranks because
(a) they are efficient and deserve it and
(b) they are in favour - of whoever. once they are removed or slandered, it is easy for someone else to start creating a different coterie. no one is a saint, but in the process, Mr. Singh forms a crucial chip in the foundation that simply cannot be allowed to leave its position - or the structure of manipulation and deceit crumbles. therefore whatever the truth about him must remain obscure.
and about the truth: at this point i am convinced of his innocence. previously i was hesitant for the sake of objectivity. right now, it is objectivity that makes me resolute.after having waited long enough for the obvious to happen, i am convinced that it has not happened for a particular reason. it is not likely that the investigation did not cross examine witnesses in Mr. Singh's case, and if they did, and found anything suspicous or incriminating, they would have
(a) suppressed it to sabotage the case or
(b) given the kind of public outcry, tried to clear at least one of the suspects to offer a semblance of sanity in all this confusion. with all the story doing the rounds about how the two DCs are going to be disposed off, it is highly unlikely that the first has happened. if it did, then other methods would have been adopted to suppress not just facts, but questions as well, questions like i have been asking. point is, THERE HAVE BEEN NO QUESTIONS!! there have been no answers either. only, a
continuation of the confusion cultivated by the press. there has been no relief. it is like a fog that refuses to disperse. in suppression or revelation, there cannot be the presence of any fog. it is created only when u want to suppress by not suppressing, subvert by not insinuating: there has been no insinuation of his guilt, officially, and neither has he been cleared.
only, a continuation of silence that enhances speculation. it is very clear to those who can squint with their ears in all this damn fog, Mr. Singh continues to be a particularly useful bit of block to bring down the existing power group, and for that, he shall most definitely be sacrificed for as long as possible. any information either way will jeopardise the carefully set up situation and topple the house of cards that lead the public on. therefore, say NOTHING and let imagination take over - and
imagination, currently, is being confused with perception and observation in these days of emotional turmoil.
the politicians: .........
i dont think i need to talk about them.
seriously.
and finally,
the well meaning intellectuals who have tried very hard over the years to fight back against injustice perpetrated by the various administrative agencies like the police, and have come up repeatedly against a blank wall. if only the police could be brought
to book, even if it meant temporary humiliation for one person, it would actually be worth it. looking at the big picture, i agree that this is effective. we need to weigh the amount of hurt each side would have to suffer. if one person gets bruised in the process, it would be alright, because he would heal, and in any case, one person is a very insignificant spot when u think of the enormous benefits that this precedent, once set, shall provide for future struggles. and there will be future struggles. the people in power refuse to learn, which is why they are the people in power. the ruthlessness and corruption that goes with power (usually) is not one that would stop because they have been exposed. it is not possible that the police wasnt involved.
Rizwanur's death is part of a hedious scheme, brutal and inefficient - the inefficiency arising out of the complacent arrogance of people who continue in life thinking they are untouchable.
This issue is not about avenging one person's death: it is about ensuring that this does not happen again, to anyone. It will take ages of course. But each bit is one bit further that we can go. It we can USE this death to ensure that the coercive side of this particular arm of state machinery is brought to book at least once, then perhaps we ought to hold off our bookish morality and adopt a more practical end justifies means approach. Mr. Singh can willingly or unwillingly play his role in
this drama and agree to be used for a purpose that does have long range socio- political ramifications. it is not just about i, me and myself that life ought to be all about. being squeamish in a situation like this does not really help. the conscience, like most other surfaces in our psyche, responds as and how it has been socially conditioned. it is not always the perfect scale of morality even in an otherwise well balanced individual. there are times when it is courage to stoop a little and accept that u r not being entirely fair AT THIS MOMENT. because this moment has much to offer that could change so many lives for the better in the next.
Having said all that, i wish nonetheless that there were another way to do this. this method is also one of generalization. the individual is not taken into account. the society is made of faceless units. when u isolate one of them and tear it out of the
brickwork, IT becomes an idividual with a life and usually a family. the slur that this individual has to bear for the grand outcome is not taken into account - not for the squeamish i said, didnt i? i have faced problems myself - as has anyone else, i
am sure- which appear small when compared to others' problems. but mine do not bother me less simply because they happen to be relatively small, relatively less important. my life is important to me, and whatever small problem that hurts my life is painful and felt deeply.
this small unit called Gyanwant Singh is a human being who may not have deserved to be turned into a pawn. still, i congratulate him on being given a position that allows him to serve the public in ways he probably had not visualized. and if i have been correct in assessing him as a human being and as a police officer, perhaps in the distant future, he will allow himself to feel better at having been a part of a largely benevolent scheme.
amen to that.
[title courtesy: what a fellow blogger wrote on the Rizwanur story]
7) Brilliant! So how come no body else noticed all this?
thank you. i dont know. i intend to find out.
...
was that sarcasm btw?
i think i have found out.
the public has not noticed because they are too emotional right now, and that state does not necessarily require one to be perceptive.
some have decided to treat the incident as a whole, that is, they have generalized according to their own ideology, namely,
police is bad, gyanwant is police, never mind what he has done specifically, they are all bad, they have to be, and this is a simple case of abuse of a Public Institution.
still others, the few who have been following all this and trying to get to the bottom of things, HAVE CERTAINLY NOTICED.
they have simply not publicized it.
there can be no other answer.
because the scene that i have been dealing with is incredibly simple. it is just not possible that i am the only intelligent person around.
lets classify these people:
the media: they have found a way to keep the flame of sales alive. in their shameless profit making scheme they have at least ensured that the case stays in the public eye. perhaps this will force an investigation after all.
the police: it would be erroneous to assume that the police is a big chunk of a body. it, like any other organization/institution, has its building blocks and segments, and yes, factions. i would be very surprised if Gyanwant were popular in every segment of this particular organization. as far as i see it, he is the anomoly, and as such, to be feared and, if possible, segregated, and definitely to be pounced upon whenever the opportunity might present itself.
the CID: i have been known to be arrogant, egoistic, and generally too full of myself; - all true, but even i cannot be so arrogant as to believe that the CID has not noticed or investigated what the press has deliberately ignored, and what i have been trying to point out. this of course leads us to the inevitable conclusion of vested interests. the commissioner did not exactly behave like a policeman, either good or bad. as someone very close to me pointed out, he spoke like a dominating office boss and patriarch combined. that is not necessarily bad. it is plain stupid. and it is probably going to cost him his seat. and if he has made that blunder, then it makes sense to cash in on it. someone is going to sit in his seat sometime. i wonder who that is, and if there is any betting going on over that. Gyanwant, if removed from the block of suspicious elements weakens the block so that people are not dead sure anymore that it is THE POLICE who has done certain things. they are no longer able to condemn en masse ALL the people whose names are connected with the case. this makes their suspension / transfer and in general, REMOVAL FROM POWER that much difficult. the existing rank holders are holding their ranks because
(a) they are efficient and deserve it and
(b) they are in favour - of whoever. once they are removed or slandered, it is easy for someone else to start creating a different coterie. no one is a saint, but in the process, Mr. Singh forms a crucial chip in the foundation that simply cannot be allowed to leave its position - or the structure of manipulation and deceit crumbles. therefore whatever the truth about him must remain obscure.
and about the truth: at this point i am convinced of his innocence. previously i was hesitant for the sake of objectivity. right now, it is objectivity that makes me resolute.after having waited long enough for the obvious to happen, i am convinced that it has not happened for a particular reason. it is not likely that the investigation did not cross examine witnesses in Mr. Singh's case, and if they did, and found anything suspicous or incriminating, they would have
(a) suppressed it to sabotage the case or
(b) given the kind of public outcry, tried to clear at least one of the suspects to offer a semblance of sanity in all this confusion. with all the story doing the rounds about how the two DCs are going to be disposed off, it is highly unlikely that the first has happened. if it did, then other methods would have been adopted to suppress not just facts, but questions as well, questions like i have been asking. point is, THERE HAVE BEEN NO QUESTIONS!! there have been no answers either. only, a
continuation of the confusion cultivated by the press. there has been no relief. it is like a fog that refuses to disperse. in suppression or revelation, there cannot be the presence of any fog. it is created only when u want to suppress by not suppressing, subvert by not insinuating: there has been no insinuation of his guilt, officially, and neither has he been cleared.
only, a continuation of silence that enhances speculation. it is very clear to those who can squint with their ears in all this damn fog, Mr. Singh continues to be a particularly useful bit of block to bring down the existing power group, and for that, he shall most definitely be sacrificed for as long as possible. any information either way will jeopardise the carefully set up situation and topple the house of cards that lead the public on. therefore, say NOTHING and let imagination take over - and
imagination, currently, is being confused with perception and observation in these days of emotional turmoil.
the politicians: .........
i dont think i need to talk about them.
seriously.
and finally,
the well meaning intellectuals who have tried very hard over the years to fight back against injustice perpetrated by the various administrative agencies like the police, and have come up repeatedly against a blank wall. if only the police could be brought
to book, even if it meant temporary humiliation for one person, it would actually be worth it. looking at the big picture, i agree that this is effective. we need to weigh the amount of hurt each side would have to suffer. if one person gets bruised in the process, it would be alright, because he would heal, and in any case, one person is a very insignificant spot when u think of the enormous benefits that this precedent, once set, shall provide for future struggles. and there will be future struggles. the people in power refuse to learn, which is why they are the people in power. the ruthlessness and corruption that goes with power (usually) is not one that would stop because they have been exposed. it is not possible that the police wasnt involved.
Rizwanur's death is part of a hedious scheme, brutal and inefficient - the inefficiency arising out of the complacent arrogance of people who continue in life thinking they are untouchable.
This issue is not about avenging one person's death: it is about ensuring that this does not happen again, to anyone. It will take ages of course. But each bit is one bit further that we can go. It we can USE this death to ensure that the coercive side of this particular arm of state machinery is brought to book at least once, then perhaps we ought to hold off our bookish morality and adopt a more practical end justifies means approach. Mr. Singh can willingly or unwillingly play his role in
this drama and agree to be used for a purpose that does have long range socio- political ramifications. it is not just about i, me and myself that life ought to be all about. being squeamish in a situation like this does not really help. the conscience, like most other surfaces in our psyche, responds as and how it has been socially conditioned. it is not always the perfect scale of morality even in an otherwise well balanced individual. there are times when it is courage to stoop a little and accept that u r not being entirely fair AT THIS MOMENT. because this moment has much to offer that could change so many lives for the better in the next.
Having said all that, i wish nonetheless that there were another way to do this. this method is also one of generalization. the individual is not taken into account. the society is made of faceless units. when u isolate one of them and tear it out of the
brickwork, IT becomes an idividual with a life and usually a family. the slur that this individual has to bear for the grand outcome is not taken into account - not for the squeamish i said, didnt i? i have faced problems myself - as has anyone else, i
am sure- which appear small when compared to others' problems. but mine do not bother me less simply because they happen to be relatively small, relatively less important. my life is important to me, and whatever small problem that hurts my life is painful and felt deeply.
this small unit called Gyanwant Singh is a human being who may not have deserved to be turned into a pawn. still, i congratulate him on being given a position that allows him to serve the public in ways he probably had not visualized. and if i have been correct in assessing him as a human being and as a police officer, perhaps in the distant future, he will allow himself to feel better at having been a part of a largely benevolent scheme.
amen to that.
[title courtesy: what a fellow blogger wrote on the Rizwanur story]
Gyanwant: an alternative analysis
I have been fortunate on two counts:
first, Sujato da has taken me seriously enough to reply to my mail which contained a proposed text for this post, and
second, he has also permitted me to put in here the text of his reply to me.
I have omitted the last few lines which i shall summarize, and part of the first line which identifies me by my real name: i wish to remain buzz off here.
And another thing: this post will NOT contain any analysis of the situation as i see it. Mr. Bhadra insisted that i do not spread confusion, and an analysis of his text from my perspective, however well meaning, might do just that. i wanted to include his name and opinion in this blog to impart to it the depth and importance that buzz off's amateurish rambling could not possibly manage... I am simply trying to get people to notice me and my ideas. my primary proposition had been that the media has crucified him because that gets them profit. i stand by that, and my assertion that there has been no serious investigative journalism. apart from that, i have sense enough to submit that i am pretty much a novice as far as procedures of justice are concerned. and yes, one more thing: i just heard something which i cant clarify just now: that pryianka has said the police did not threaten her.
ok, enough of me...here goes his reply first, after which is published the draft that i had sent him.
Dear Prof.[........],
as promised, I have read your proposed text. Why civil liberties bodies like APDR demands suspenasion of the accused [ which not necessary means guilty] is to be clearly spelt out : not to influence the proceeding, not use its power in oppressive manner against witnesses, not use its office to destroy whatever little evidence that exist; 2ndly, this step will act as an example and warning to other officials ; they would learn that they are not above law ; they can not enjoy power without accountability and with impunity. Thereafter question of moral indictment comes.
If we say suspension technique is nothing but absolutely appease technique then we miss another dimension - positive role of civil society and of media despite its limitation to force the govt aganist the prime facie proved delinquent police officials.;no govt can remain silent or take no action in the face of justified social outcry .The govt may have a design which different from that of people,but that does not nullify the very action, however limited. Your presumption about govt.'s motive behind ' removal technique" , let us agree, is for malafide intention, bit that does not follow that not to remove; to keep the accused oficers and others in their same respective post will be a slur on Indian democracy.
There is a legal principle: it is not enough only to deliver the justice, justice has to be appeared to have been done. In the instant case the gang of five should be suspensed for fiar trial and trial shold be free from terrorised atmosphere.
[......................]*
Sujato bhadra
*[this part of the reply refers to my post FAQ, and a certain statement there which might create confusion, and so, he says, i must not use his name or this reply in my blog. i called him, talked to him, and thankfully, he agreed to let me publish his reply]
THIS WAS THE DRAFT I HAD SENT HIM:
Proposed Post:
Gyanwant: the next phase
I am happy to say that Mr. Sujato Bhadra shares my point of view to a certain significant extent. We just talked, and i mention this to enhance my position and the content of my blog. After all, i am just a lone and unknown voice raving about obscure things; if someone of Sujato da's stature can be made to join in, it just might sound sane and attract some attention.
Lets talk about the situation first:
a) no criminal investigation yet
b) removal of gyanwant and ajay appeases public
c) they go home satisfied that justice has been done, because most of them seem to believe that removing the concerned police officers is the order of the day, and they did kill Rizwanur. the public has been operating on pure emotion, which can often backfire, and serve to shield the real culprits
d) anyway, politically, the ruling party then would be giving the public a puja gift by removing the officers; the public go home and enjoy this 'victory' during the pujas; justice has apparently been done
e) after the pujas people dont bother about what happens next, because their personal and emotional agenda has been fulfilled; never mind who killed Riz
f) mission accomplished; left front saves face; case forgotten in a couple of months.
Sujato da insists that the officers be suspended strictly according to procedure- it would simply mean that they are off active duty while investigation is being carried on since they are also on suspect - not guilty- list. if innocence if proved, they resume duty, and nothing is lost: this was just a moral indictment on them, and on the police in general.
this sounds fair enough. He understands my stand, but has his own, which is perfectly logical and objective. after all, he is down there fighting the case, or trying to fight: i am in the virtual world, with my cup of coffe, lounging in my room and typing out some staff. he cant afford to be anything but objective here. no arguments.
and most important, we both agree that suspension or transfer now has to be a public appeasing technique... after all, why wasnt this cursory measure carried out before.
we differ in that he cannot help but insist on the suspenison, and proper investigation thereafter, and i am scared that this suspension now, if it happens, will actually calm the public, which has been instrumental in keeping the case alive.
Priyanka could not be talked to because she is absolutely devastated, so it will be a while till we know exactly what gyanwant did...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF DRAFT
-------------------------------------------------------------
no more time tonight; i had intended to modify my stance a little according to what suajato da has mentioned, and analyse the situation in a slightly different vein than i have done so far, but there is hardly any time left now... i shall write another draft later and send it to him again for his approval and hopefully publish it very soon. meanwhile, will await comments.
goodnight.
post script:
Sujato da is how i refer to him and / or address him as: it does not imply close camaraderie; i am fortunate, like i said, that he has taken me seriously enough to reply to my mail, and to allow me to publish it as well. apart from that, he merely knows me by face, and i feel good and grateful that he remembers it :)
first, Sujato da has taken me seriously enough to reply to my mail which contained a proposed text for this post, and
second, he has also permitted me to put in here the text of his reply to me.
I have omitted the last few lines which i shall summarize, and part of the first line which identifies me by my real name: i wish to remain buzz off here.
And another thing: this post will NOT contain any analysis of the situation as i see it. Mr. Bhadra insisted that i do not spread confusion, and an analysis of his text from my perspective, however well meaning, might do just that. i wanted to include his name and opinion in this blog to impart to it the depth and importance that buzz off's amateurish rambling could not possibly manage... I am simply trying to get people to notice me and my ideas. my primary proposition had been that the media has crucified him because that gets them profit. i stand by that, and my assertion that there has been no serious investigative journalism. apart from that, i have sense enough to submit that i am pretty much a novice as far as procedures of justice are concerned. and yes, one more thing: i just heard something which i cant clarify just now: that pryianka has said the police did not threaten her.
ok, enough of me...here goes his reply first, after which is published the draft that i had sent him.
Dear Prof.[........],
as promised, I have read your proposed text. Why civil liberties bodies like APDR demands suspenasion of the accused [ which not necessary means guilty] is to be clearly spelt out : not to influence the proceeding, not use its power in oppressive manner against witnesses, not use its office to destroy whatever little evidence that exist; 2ndly, this step will act as an example and warning to other officials ; they would learn that they are not above law ; they can not enjoy power without accountability and with impunity. Thereafter question of moral indictment comes.
If we say suspension technique is nothing but absolutely appease technique then we miss another dimension - positive role of civil society and of media despite its limitation to force the govt aganist the prime facie proved delinquent police officials.;no govt can remain silent or take no action in the face of justified social outcry .The govt may have a design which different from that of people,but that does not nullify the very action, however limited. Your presumption about govt.'s motive behind ' removal technique" , let us agree, is for malafide intention, bit that does not follow that not to remove; to keep the accused oficers and others in their same respective post will be a slur on Indian democracy.
There is a legal principle: it is not enough only to deliver the justice, justice has to be appeared to have been done. In the instant case the gang of five should be suspensed for fiar trial and trial shold be free from terrorised atmosphere.
[......................]*
Sujato bhadra
*[this part of the reply refers to my post FAQ, and a certain statement there which might create confusion, and so, he says, i must not use his name or this reply in my blog. i called him, talked to him, and thankfully, he agreed to let me publish his reply]
THIS WAS THE DRAFT I HAD SENT HIM:
Proposed Post:
Gyanwant: the next phase
I am happy to say that Mr. Sujato Bhadra shares my point of view to a certain significant extent. We just talked, and i mention this to enhance my position and the content of my blog. After all, i am just a lone and unknown voice raving about obscure things; if someone of Sujato da's stature can be made to join in, it just might sound sane and attract some attention.
Lets talk about the situation first:
a) no criminal investigation yet
b) removal of gyanwant and ajay appeases public
c) they go home satisfied that justice has been done, because most of them seem to believe that removing the concerned police officers is the order of the day, and they did kill Rizwanur. the public has been operating on pure emotion, which can often backfire, and serve to shield the real culprits
d) anyway, politically, the ruling party then would be giving the public a puja gift by removing the officers; the public go home and enjoy this 'victory' during the pujas; justice has apparently been done
e) after the pujas people dont bother about what happens next, because their personal and emotional agenda has been fulfilled; never mind who killed Riz
f) mission accomplished; left front saves face; case forgotten in a couple of months.
Sujato da insists that the officers be suspended strictly according to procedure- it would simply mean that they are off active duty while investigation is being carried on since they are also on suspect - not guilty- list. if innocence if proved, they resume duty, and nothing is lost: this was just a moral indictment on them, and on the police in general.
this sounds fair enough. He understands my stand, but has his own, which is perfectly logical and objective. after all, he is down there fighting the case, or trying to fight: i am in the virtual world, with my cup of coffe, lounging in my room and typing out some staff. he cant afford to be anything but objective here. no arguments.
and most important, we both agree that suspension or transfer now has to be a public appeasing technique... after all, why wasnt this cursory measure carried out before.
we differ in that he cannot help but insist on the suspenison, and proper investigation thereafter, and i am scared that this suspension now, if it happens, will actually calm the public, which has been instrumental in keeping the case alive.
Priyanka could not be talked to because she is absolutely devastated, so it will be a while till we know exactly what gyanwant did...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF DRAFT
-------------------------------------------------------------
no more time tonight; i had intended to modify my stance a little according to what suajato da has mentioned, and analyse the situation in a slightly different vein than i have done so far, but there is hardly any time left now... i shall write another draft later and send it to him again for his approval and hopefully publish it very soon. meanwhile, will await comments.
goodnight.
post script:
Sujato da is how i refer to him and / or address him as: it does not imply close camaraderie; i am fortunate, like i said, that he has taken me seriously enough to reply to my mail, and to allow me to publish it as well. apart from that, he merely knows me by face, and i feel good and grateful that he remembers it :)
Friday, October 5, 2007
VINDICATED - the beginning
Today's report on NDTV about Riz's account shows clearly what i have pointed out earlier: the media in general has sensationalized the story without probing into Gyanwant's role. Turns out he did not even meet Rizwanur.
I ask u: is there or is there not a difference between calling someone to Lalbazar and their coming over on their own?
If Priyanka's parents brought her over to Singh through a personal contact, and Singh asked her to go back to her parents, it does NOT mean
a) he was abusing his position
b) he was trying to break the marriage / asking her to desert her husband
Previously i had speculated that Singh must have talked to the couple/Rizwanur and tried to dissuade him because of the potential risk involved in the situation. I am not going back on that. Based on the super confusing material spread by the media, and my own idea of the person, that's what it seemed like he had done.
Nothing has changed, basically. I repeat, he did not call them, they came to him, and when someone comes through personal contact, u dont really tell them 'look i cant talk to ur daughter because counseling is not my job'. No, u dont do that. The probability that someone is going to be killed pretty soon doesnt occur to you. u do ur best to solve the problem as u see fit. this is not the same as what Sukanti or even Ajay Kumar did.
One more thing, the CP told the press that he asked the Todis to go see Gyanwant, but it appeared that they had already been to him. If Gyanwant had intimidated the girl or sent instructions to intimidate the boy, why would they need to visit the Commissioner? Obviously, Gyanwant did not try to coerce or force; he must simply have offered what he considered good advice.
We have seen examples of that. In his TV interviews he did talk about how he handles juvenile delinquents: ask them to meet him with their parents and say things like 'beta tum ne aisa kiun kiya?' Doesnt sound like ur typical policeman, does it? Nor does it sound like a morally superior attitude.
My hypothesis is that he must have asked Priyanka to go back to her parents - meaning NOT TO ABAND0N HER PARENTS, after which she must have said what Riz's account refers to: that her parents were torturing her mentally. Why does everyone have to presume that he threatened to break the marriage in collusion with the other officers who did actually threaten her / them?
I am getting repetitive, but thats because the media has done nothing new. and some people in the media, who might have made a difference, do know about my views, have visited my blog. they appear concerned about the abuse of an Institution, as they should be, but i am alarmed at their lack of interest in the particular. to generalize seems the order of the day.
If Gyanwant is removed for political gain, it will be a loss to the public, who, even though they do not deserve him, do need him. It is important that a proper investigation is conducted by the media to focus on the truth. It is important we do not lose a gentleman police officer. There are simply too few of them around.
I ask u: is there or is there not a difference between calling someone to Lalbazar and their coming over on their own?
If Priyanka's parents brought her over to Singh through a personal contact, and Singh asked her to go back to her parents, it does NOT mean
a) he was abusing his position
b) he was trying to break the marriage / asking her to desert her husband
Previously i had speculated that Singh must have talked to the couple/Rizwanur and tried to dissuade him because of the potential risk involved in the situation. I am not going back on that. Based on the super confusing material spread by the media, and my own idea of the person, that's what it seemed like he had done.
Nothing has changed, basically. I repeat, he did not call them, they came to him, and when someone comes through personal contact, u dont really tell them 'look i cant talk to ur daughter because counseling is not my job'. No, u dont do that. The probability that someone is going to be killed pretty soon doesnt occur to you. u do ur best to solve the problem as u see fit. this is not the same as what Sukanti or even Ajay Kumar did.
One more thing, the CP told the press that he asked the Todis to go see Gyanwant, but it appeared that they had already been to him. If Gyanwant had intimidated the girl or sent instructions to intimidate the boy, why would they need to visit the Commissioner? Obviously, Gyanwant did not try to coerce or force; he must simply have offered what he considered good advice.
We have seen examples of that. In his TV interviews he did talk about how he handles juvenile delinquents: ask them to meet him with their parents and say things like 'beta tum ne aisa kiun kiya?' Doesnt sound like ur typical policeman, does it? Nor does it sound like a morally superior attitude.
My hypothesis is that he must have asked Priyanka to go back to her parents - meaning NOT TO ABAND0N HER PARENTS, after which she must have said what Riz's account refers to: that her parents were torturing her mentally. Why does everyone have to presume that he threatened to break the marriage in collusion with the other officers who did actually threaten her / them?
I am getting repetitive, but thats because the media has done nothing new. and some people in the media, who might have made a difference, do know about my views, have visited my blog. they appear concerned about the abuse of an Institution, as they should be, but i am alarmed at their lack of interest in the particular. to generalize seems the order of the day.
If Gyanwant is removed for political gain, it will be a loss to the public, who, even though they do not deserve him, do need him. It is important that a proper investigation is conducted by the media to focus on the truth. It is important we do not lose a gentleman police officer. There are simply too few of them around.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Gyanwant Singh: some interesting facts
Just watched a TV report on Sukanti - his achievements in coercion and harassment... if not for anything else, the CP should be relieved of his duties for even thinking of promoting a criminal like him.
No one has been too interested in Singh - apart from constantly referring to him as the one of the two accused. Thought of shedding some light on the kind of officer he has been so far. Interesting that the media has not bothered to find out exactly what his role was by corroborating his version of it with that of other witnesses.
Oh, and i am profoundly disappointed with the two Arena students... it was a complete waste of time talking to them. Just hope my students dont behave in this manner if i am killed. Even active apathy would be better than this mindless shortcut to protest.
Here goes:
The Times of India
Jilted lovers misuse net to avenge 'insult'
5 Sep 2006, 0004 hrs IST,Saibal Sen,TNN
KOLKATA: The craze may be catching on across the country, but for three girls, 'orkutting' turned out to be a nightmare.
The city police have probed at least three complaints — the last of them from Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) — where jilted lovers and spurned friends had turned to Orkut with vengeance, creating obscene profiles and lewd albums, making life living hell for the victims.
The three complaints, two of which were made by Kolkata-based girls and one from Madhya Pradesh, were received in the last three months. In each, detective found out later, the girls knew their tormentors.
However, no case was lodged, as officers felt the three 'offending' youth had a bright future ahead of them.
"They were let off with a stern warning. We explained to them that these acts were punishable both under the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
If slapped with cases, either their careers will be ruined or they might land up in jail. They are young people who claimed to have done this in momentary madness," said Gyanwant Singh, deputy commissioner.
For the victims, however, this hasn't been easy. Take for example the latest complaint. This 23-year-old Bengali girl now doing her MA in Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) was quite depressed after her long relationship with a youth fell apart.
They'd called off their engagement. While the girl was trying her best to come to terms with reality, this youth was plotting revenge. So what did he do?
He turned to Orkut. He created a completely new profile of the girl — replete with her name and address (even her mail ID's and cell-number).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1956935.cms
The Telegraph
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Sleuth chief flayed for bulletin goof-up
A STAFF REPORTER
The state government on Monday censured city detective chief Gyanwant Singh for the ?goof-up? that led to the publication of ?bribe rates? in Calcutta Police Gazette and ordered an inquiry against two persons involved with the printing of the bulletin.
Though no one has been named, insiders in the home department claimed the inquiry would find out the role of the head assistant to Singh, deputy commissioner (I) of the detective department, and the printer of the Gazette. Both are on staff of the Calcutta Police Directorate, but are not police personnel.
Acting police commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarty has said in his report that Singh, the final authority in approving of the write-ups, was at fault, but added that the officer was hard-pressed for time because of the security arrangements that had to be made for the delimitation commission session at Mahajati Sadan on September 8.
Singh cleared the write-ups a day before, when he was busy with the security preparations, the report said.
Home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said there had been ?lapses on Singh?s part? and that he would be ?censured in writing?. But apart from that, the government will not take any action against him because of his ?good record?. In fact, the probe announced on Wednesday will be carried out by Singh. The report will be submitted in a week.
Repeating what he had said earlier, Ray said the publication of the ?bribe rates? was not a mistake, but a ?deliberate? act. The hint was that those responsible for it wanted to malign the image of the force.
Published on September 8, Part IV of the Gazette claimed that an undertrial at the Sealdah court lock-up can have foreign liquor by paying Rs 200 or speak on a cell phone by paying Rs 100 to a policeman. If an undertrial wants to talk to an outsider, the rate is Rs 50.
The authorities have found out that someone had kept the draft, containing the bribe details, in a heap of papers on the head assistant?s table. The slip was marked ?printer? ? meaning it was to be published in the Gazette.
This, it appears, was done by an officer of the detective department, who knew that the head assistant usually did not go through the write-ups.
And, as usual, the head assistant passed on the draft to the printer, who forwarded it to deputy commissioner Singh for approval.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050913/asp/calcutta/story_5230180.asp
‘Politicians tricked us into committing crimes’
Author: IANS
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: February 28, 2004
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20040228005937&Page=P&Title=States&Topic=0&
Forty-eight criminals in a West Bengal jail have told a police officer that politicians misled them into committing crimes like murder, rape and arson.
It what appears to be a case of belated realisation for the prisoners of Berhampore Central Jail in Murshidabad district, they have sought help from the officer to start life afresh.
The criminals wrote to Murshidabad police chief Gyanwant Singh Feb 16, saying various political parties had used them (criminals) for political gains.
"Opportunist political leaders tricked us with their doctrines and made us commit crimes and turned many of us against each other," the letter said.
While 20 of the prisoners said they worked for the Congress party, 28 said they indulged in criminal activities at the behest of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
The 48 men hail from 25 politically volatile villages of Murshidabad. They said traditionally their families owed allegiance to the Congress or CPI-M.
"The leaders of the two parties incited and encouraged us to attack each other. We fell victim to their machinations," the letter said.
The criminals admitted that for 20 years they indulged in political violence. They also held the police and the administration responsible for their plight.
"The socio-economic structure in our villages has collapsed. Everyone's future has plunged into darkness. Even we are victims of this political attrition," the letter said.
Predictably, both the Congress and CPI-M have refused to acknowledge the criminals as their members and dismissed their claims as false.
"We don't believe in the politics of murder," said CPI-M MP Mainul Hasan. "Our party doesn't incite violence," matched Congress leader Mannan Hossain.
Police officer Singh is inclined to help the criminals, who have promised to shun violence.
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0304/21.html
No one has been too interested in Singh - apart from constantly referring to him as the one of the two accused. Thought of shedding some light on the kind of officer he has been so far. Interesting that the media has not bothered to find out exactly what his role was by corroborating his version of it with that of other witnesses.
Oh, and i am profoundly disappointed with the two Arena students... it was a complete waste of time talking to them. Just hope my students dont behave in this manner if i am killed. Even active apathy would be better than this mindless shortcut to protest.
Here goes:
The Times of India
Jilted lovers misuse net to avenge 'insult'
5 Sep 2006, 0004 hrs IST,Saibal Sen,TNN
KOLKATA: The craze may be catching on across the country, but for three girls, 'orkutting' turned out to be a nightmare.
The city police have probed at least three complaints — the last of them from Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) — where jilted lovers and spurned friends had turned to Orkut with vengeance, creating obscene profiles and lewd albums, making life living hell for the victims.
The three complaints, two of which were made by Kolkata-based girls and one from Madhya Pradesh, were received in the last three months. In each, detective found out later, the girls knew their tormentors.
However, no case was lodged, as officers felt the three 'offending' youth had a bright future ahead of them.
"They were let off with a stern warning. We explained to them that these acts were punishable both under the Information Technology Act and the Indian Penal Code.
If slapped with cases, either their careers will be ruined or they might land up in jail. They are young people who claimed to have done this in momentary madness," said Gyanwant Singh, deputy commissioner.
For the victims, however, this hasn't been easy. Take for example the latest complaint. This 23-year-old Bengali girl now doing her MA in Bilaspur (Madhya Pradesh) was quite depressed after her long relationship with a youth fell apart.
They'd called off their engagement. While the girl was trying her best to come to terms with reality, this youth was plotting revenge. So what did he do?
He turned to Orkut. He created a completely new profile of the girl — replete with her name and address (even her mail ID's and cell-number).
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1956935.cms
The Telegraph
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Sleuth chief flayed for bulletin goof-up
A STAFF REPORTER
The state government on Monday censured city detective chief Gyanwant Singh for the ?goof-up? that led to the publication of ?bribe rates? in Calcutta Police Gazette and ordered an inquiry against two persons involved with the printing of the bulletin.
Though no one has been named, insiders in the home department claimed the inquiry would find out the role of the head assistant to Singh, deputy commissioner (I) of the detective department, and the printer of the Gazette. Both are on staff of the Calcutta Police Directorate, but are not police personnel.
Acting police commissioner Gautam Mohan Chakrabarty has said in his report that Singh, the final authority in approving of the write-ups, was at fault, but added that the officer was hard-pressed for time because of the security arrangements that had to be made for the delimitation commission session at Mahajati Sadan on September 8.
Singh cleared the write-ups a day before, when he was busy with the security preparations, the report said.
Home secretary Prasad Ranjan Ray said there had been ?lapses on Singh?s part? and that he would be ?censured in writing?. But apart from that, the government will not take any action against him because of his ?good record?. In fact, the probe announced on Wednesday will be carried out by Singh. The report will be submitted in a week.
Repeating what he had said earlier, Ray said the publication of the ?bribe rates? was not a mistake, but a ?deliberate? act. The hint was that those responsible for it wanted to malign the image of the force.
Published on September 8, Part IV of the Gazette claimed that an undertrial at the Sealdah court lock-up can have foreign liquor by paying Rs 200 or speak on a cell phone by paying Rs 100 to a policeman. If an undertrial wants to talk to an outsider, the rate is Rs 50.
The authorities have found out that someone had kept the draft, containing the bribe details, in a heap of papers on the head assistant?s table. The slip was marked ?printer? ? meaning it was to be published in the Gazette.
This, it appears, was done by an officer of the detective department, who knew that the head assistant usually did not go through the write-ups.
And, as usual, the head assistant passed on the draft to the printer, who forwarded it to deputy commissioner Singh for approval.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1050913/asp/calcutta/story_5230180.asp
‘Politicians tricked us into committing crimes’
Author: IANS
Publication: The New Indian Express
Date: February 28, 2004
URL: http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEP20040228005937&Page=P&Title=States&Topic=0&
Forty-eight criminals in a West Bengal jail have told a police officer that politicians misled them into committing crimes like murder, rape and arson.
It what appears to be a case of belated realisation for the prisoners of Berhampore Central Jail in Murshidabad district, they have sought help from the officer to start life afresh.
The criminals wrote to Murshidabad police chief Gyanwant Singh Feb 16, saying various political parties had used them (criminals) for political gains.
"Opportunist political leaders tricked us with their doctrines and made us commit crimes and turned many of us against each other," the letter said.
While 20 of the prisoners said they worked for the Congress party, 28 said they indulged in criminal activities at the behest of the ruling Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M).
The 48 men hail from 25 politically volatile villages of Murshidabad. They said traditionally their families owed allegiance to the Congress or CPI-M.
"The leaders of the two parties incited and encouraged us to attack each other. We fell victim to their machinations," the letter said.
The criminals admitted that for 20 years they indulged in political violence. They also held the police and the administration responsible for their plight.
"The socio-economic structure in our villages has collapsed. Everyone's future has plunged into darkness. Even we are victims of this political attrition," the letter said.
Predictably, both the Congress and CPI-M have refused to acknowledge the criminals as their members and dismissed their claims as false.
"We don't believe in the politics of murder," said CPI-M MP Mainul Hasan. "Our party doesn't incite violence," matched Congress leader Mannan Hossain.
Police officer Singh is inclined to help the criminals, who have promised to shun violence.
http://www.hvk.org/articles/0304/21.html
FAQ
of course, no one has really asked me anything frequently, but from comments and observations, i suspect my posts appear a little confusing to most. and neither do they lend themselves to quick scrolling. so here goes:
1) Why do i appear less focussed on Rizwanur?
because there is hardly anything i can do about the victim: the investigation will reveal what it has to reveal in due course. i can only keep the issue alive by referring to it repeatedly, if it starts to die down sometime in the future.
2) Why am i sucking up to Gyanwant?
thats in my nature: i want him to notice how i am sticking up for him so that i can ask for favours later. simple.
3) What is it that i am REALLY trying to say?
that there has been no real investigative journalism.
4)HO-AAT??
...
sigh.
ok, let me explain for one last time.
involvement of the DC Headquarters is a serious issue. did he call the couple, or did a common / family friend bring the couple to him?
or did he speak to the girl in the presence of her parents?
why did he speak to any of them at all? was it in a personal capacity? - like, someone knows him (in this case Anil Saraogi)and knows the Todis as well, and decides to ask for his help in convincing the girl she is wrong etc...
in any case, what did he tell her/ him / them?
was he trying to break the marriage?
send the girl home temporarily?
trying to understand what was going on?
did Todi bribe him to talk to the couple/Rizwanur/Priyanka?
none of the above?
all of the above?
some of the above?
what on earth is going on here?
why isnt the media interested in the TRUTH?
why is there so much presumption?
.....
5) Um... right... so what is everyone supposed to do, according to me?
less presumption, to begin with.
if the boy hadnt been killed (i am going to presume that he was killed), things would have been very different.
Gyanwant's would have been a friendly advice if things had worked out well for all...
now that there are allegations, the only thing that journalists should have done is:
A> interview Gyanwant
B> interview others... people who know first hand what he had actually done/ said
C> do a comparision to come to a definite conclusion
INSTEAD,
all they have done so far is,
A> published confusing and often contradictory news reports about what he has done or not done.
B> shown a distinct apathy at verifying any of that
C> been satisfied with shouting themselves hoarse over who should be removed from which post instead of doing any kind of investigation (refer to what i have written about that above)
D> appeared (to me at least) more interested in nailing Gyanwant and selling papers than proving him either guilty or innocent
E> and therefore smacked dangerously of some political agenda
6) Political agenda? What political agenda?
you know, the usual... Muslim boy dies under questionable circumstances before elections.
left front must save face.
sacking of senior IPS officers would be a very 'bold and honest' step
and probably quench part of the thirst for blood
and assure more Muslim and otherwise votes...
...and shift focus from who had actually killed Rizwanur and how.
'even a senior IPS officer like Mr. Gyanwant Singh was not spared' sounds impressive enough. never mind whether he is guilty or not.
statements demanding their summary removal have come already, and the media seemed uninterested when Mr. Upen Biswas put things in perspective and said something like 'let the CID do its job' instead of presuming things etc.
7) Brilliant! So how come no body else noticed all this?
thank you. i dont know. i intend to find out.
...
was that sarcasm btw?
8) So thats it? I am trying to save the innocent and all...?
well.. yes, and no. the investigation will reveal what it will reveal.
but many cases are known to have been shoved under the table and lost forever.
i am more concerned with what this is doing to the public image of Gyanwant whom i consider an officer and a gentleman. if the case is suppressed, people will still blame him and say he got away with murder. i dont think he deserves that. the media sould come forth and do its bit to ensure that the truth about his and other people's actions / roles come forth so that we know at least that much, independent of whether the CID manages to solve the case in ten years or so.
9) May i ask some more questions later as and when they come to me?
sure. goodnight.
1) Why do i appear less focussed on Rizwanur?
because there is hardly anything i can do about the victim: the investigation will reveal what it has to reveal in due course. i can only keep the issue alive by referring to it repeatedly, if it starts to die down sometime in the future.
2) Why am i sucking up to Gyanwant?
thats in my nature: i want him to notice how i am sticking up for him so that i can ask for favours later. simple.
3) What is it that i am REALLY trying to say?
that there has been no real investigative journalism.
4)HO-AAT??
...
sigh.
ok, let me explain for one last time.
involvement of the DC Headquarters is a serious issue. did he call the couple, or did a common / family friend bring the couple to him?
or did he speak to the girl in the presence of her parents?
why did he speak to any of them at all? was it in a personal capacity? - like, someone knows him (in this case Anil Saraogi)and knows the Todis as well, and decides to ask for his help in convincing the girl she is wrong etc...
in any case, what did he tell her/ him / them?
was he trying to break the marriage?
send the girl home temporarily?
trying to understand what was going on?
did Todi bribe him to talk to the couple/Rizwanur/Priyanka?
none of the above?
all of the above?
some of the above?
what on earth is going on here?
why isnt the media interested in the TRUTH?
why is there so much presumption?
.....
5) Um... right... so what is everyone supposed to do, according to me?
less presumption, to begin with.
if the boy hadnt been killed (i am going to presume that he was killed), things would have been very different.
Gyanwant's would have been a friendly advice if things had worked out well for all...
now that there are allegations, the only thing that journalists should have done is:
A> interview Gyanwant
B> interview others... people who know first hand what he had actually done/ said
C> do a comparision to come to a definite conclusion
INSTEAD,
all they have done so far is,
A> published confusing and often contradictory news reports about what he has done or not done.
B> shown a distinct apathy at verifying any of that
C> been satisfied with shouting themselves hoarse over who should be removed from which post instead of doing any kind of investigation (refer to what i have written about that above)
D> appeared (to me at least) more interested in nailing Gyanwant and selling papers than proving him either guilty or innocent
E> and therefore smacked dangerously of some political agenda
6) Political agenda? What political agenda?
you know, the usual... Muslim boy dies under questionable circumstances before elections.
left front must save face.
sacking of senior IPS officers would be a very 'bold and honest' step
and probably quench part of the thirst for blood
and assure more Muslim and otherwise votes...
...and shift focus from who had actually killed Rizwanur and how.
'even a senior IPS officer like Mr. Gyanwant Singh was not spared' sounds impressive enough. never mind whether he is guilty or not.
statements demanding their summary removal have come already, and the media seemed uninterested when Mr. Upen Biswas put things in perspective and said something like 'let the CID do its job' instead of presuming things etc.
7) Brilliant! So how come no body else noticed all this?
thank you. i dont know. i intend to find out.
...
was that sarcasm btw?
8) So thats it? I am trying to save the innocent and all...?
well.. yes, and no. the investigation will reveal what it will reveal.
but many cases are known to have been shoved under the table and lost forever.
i am more concerned with what this is doing to the public image of Gyanwant whom i consider an officer and a gentleman. if the case is suppressed, people will still blame him and say he got away with murder. i dont think he deserves that. the media sould come forth and do its bit to ensure that the truth about his and other people's actions / roles come forth so that we know at least that much, independent of whether the CID manages to solve the case in ten years or so.
9) May i ask some more questions later as and when they come to me?
sure. goodnight.
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
the analysis...?
ok. lets see... election around the corner, and Muslim boy gets killed / dies. not the most favourable situation for the ruling party. pls note the Muslim part. i think we can safely rule out official left party involvement here. or even unofficial.
why am i doing this by the way? because i am a smart@$$. happy? now scroll down or scram.
the body is found so much without injury that it is difficult to pass of as a suicide case even without CID enquiry. what - a bunch of morons killed him and tried to fake it? or perhaps someone was trying to show that this was being faked? trying to make sure everyone knew that this was a murder that was being framed as a suicide?
apparently the police arrived promptly after they were notified of his death; wouldnt pick up his cell which kept ringing as if they knew who he was (will link to the page where i found this info later)...
conclusion 1) the police were directly involved in his killing, and were waiting for the call from the public
conclusion 2) the police were indirectly involved in his killing, and were waiting for the call from the public
conclusion 3) anyone? hm?
Todi wasnt here when the murder took place. how convenient. the perfect alibi.
who stands to gain from Rizwanur's death?
1) Todi. his daughter is not going back now. is probably, and hopefully going to let time be the healer and put all this behind her someday and begin a new life; in any case, she was easily convinced that her husband committed suicide.
2) political overtones here: the left front is going to lose a lot of Muslim votes if Buddha doesnt play this right.
i wonder if playing this right might mean sacrificing Gyanwant.
i havent found anything in the news that shows he threatened the couple. badly need Priyanka's version of the story. no word of this from the official story of the CID; but then, they let her talk instead of asking her questions. and since Gyanwant is my personal agenda, i need not assume they found it important enough to move the conversation in that direction either.
look at ajay kumar's actions: on the one hand he threatens Riz and on the other, makes Priyanka's people sign a bond that she will be returned in eight days (or was it seven). smacks of high handed moral policing more than intention to kill off the man. perhaps that bit was reserved for Sukanti and Krishnendu.
strange that they should now pass the buck so directly. like they have been prompted to lie about it. i mean, they are still going to work under the same superiors assuming the two IPS are not found guilty or removed for any other reason. doesnt make sense to antagonize them so blatantly. what exactly is going on here?
anyone remember the medical kit case? Singh was creating more than a stir. too many big feathers were being ruffled. he is promoted out of it, and no one ever hears of the case again.
i could be wrong of course, in which case, please let me know if any - i mean any, news item was aired or written on the case after Singh became DC Headquarters from DCDD1. Doesnt sound like a man who could be bought or threatened at all.
lot of disjointed thoughts. cant be called analysis. will try to put them together some time later. right now though: I LOVE SHAKESPEARE! knew you not Pompey? etc. etc.
btw, some Martian of a CID had threatened Sujato Bhadra with arrest and tried to fool him with an altered version of CRPC 91 (or 19?)
I mean, anyone who threatens Sujato da with arrest has to be from Mars, right? and hoping to intimidate him with altered version of the Code? i dont know... ridiculous?
makes me think of my earlier post on dehra dun ... i had called it musing and talked about the arrogance that comes of authority and ignorance and lack of education... or something to that effect. the CID is investigating whether the police made threat calls. funny. a gentleman volunteers to tell all he knows on the case, and all they can do is act smart and try to intimidate him. Krishnendu and Sukanti are in good company. they dont have a chance. the CID know all their tactics, and more. ladies and gents, here we have a no win situation where both contenders are equally pathetic and disgusting. i think they should take turns investigating each other.
one more thing: Sujato da is what i call him, refer to him as... doesnt mean i am pally with him. he knows me by face, thats all. i am NOT a very important person really. hardly anyone knows me outside of my small small circle.
have to leave now. more on this later unless i delete the whole damn ranting in the morning.
why am i doing this by the way? because i am a smart@$$. happy? now scroll down or scram.
the body is found so much without injury that it is difficult to pass of as a suicide case even without CID enquiry. what - a bunch of morons killed him and tried to fake it? or perhaps someone was trying to show that this was being faked? trying to make sure everyone knew that this was a murder that was being framed as a suicide?
apparently the police arrived promptly after they were notified of his death; wouldnt pick up his cell which kept ringing as if they knew who he was (will link to the page where i found this info later)...
conclusion 1) the police were directly involved in his killing, and were waiting for the call from the public
conclusion 2) the police were indirectly involved in his killing, and were waiting for the call from the public
conclusion 3) anyone? hm?
Todi wasnt here when the murder took place. how convenient. the perfect alibi.
who stands to gain from Rizwanur's death?
1) Todi. his daughter is not going back now. is probably, and hopefully going to let time be the healer and put all this behind her someday and begin a new life; in any case, she was easily convinced that her husband committed suicide.
2) political overtones here: the left front is going to lose a lot of Muslim votes if Buddha doesnt play this right.
i wonder if playing this right might mean sacrificing Gyanwant.
i havent found anything in the news that shows he threatened the couple. badly need Priyanka's version of the story. no word of this from the official story of the CID; but then, they let her talk instead of asking her questions. and since Gyanwant is my personal agenda, i need not assume they found it important enough to move the conversation in that direction either.
look at ajay kumar's actions: on the one hand he threatens Riz and on the other, makes Priyanka's people sign a bond that she will be returned in eight days (or was it seven). smacks of high handed moral policing more than intention to kill off the man. perhaps that bit was reserved for Sukanti and Krishnendu.
strange that they should now pass the buck so directly. like they have been prompted to lie about it. i mean, they are still going to work under the same superiors assuming the two IPS are not found guilty or removed for any other reason. doesnt make sense to antagonize them so blatantly. what exactly is going on here?
anyone remember the medical kit case? Singh was creating more than a stir. too many big feathers were being ruffled. he is promoted out of it, and no one ever hears of the case again.
i could be wrong of course, in which case, please let me know if any - i mean any, news item was aired or written on the case after Singh became DC Headquarters from DCDD1. Doesnt sound like a man who could be bought or threatened at all.
lot of disjointed thoughts. cant be called analysis. will try to put them together some time later. right now though: I LOVE SHAKESPEARE! knew you not Pompey? etc. etc.
btw, some Martian of a CID had threatened Sujato Bhadra with arrest and tried to fool him with an altered version of CRPC 91 (or 19?)
I mean, anyone who threatens Sujato da with arrest has to be from Mars, right? and hoping to intimidate him with altered version of the Code? i dont know... ridiculous?
makes me think of my earlier post on dehra dun ... i had called it musing and talked about the arrogance that comes of authority and ignorance and lack of education... or something to that effect. the CID is investigating whether the police made threat calls. funny. a gentleman volunteers to tell all he knows on the case, and all they can do is act smart and try to intimidate him. Krishnendu and Sukanti are in good company. they dont have a chance. the CID know all their tactics, and more. ladies and gents, here we have a no win situation where both contenders are equally pathetic and disgusting. i think they should take turns investigating each other.
one more thing: Sujato da is what i call him, refer to him as... doesnt mean i am pally with him. he knows me by face, thats all. i am NOT a very important person really. hardly anyone knows me outside of my small small circle.
have to leave now. more on this later unless i delete the whole damn ranting in the morning.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Gyanwant Singh
this and subsequent posts on Singh and the Rizwanur case in general are for a very specific reason: investigation will hopefully reveal who is guilty, however, it is alarming how public opinion shifts, and how fast. in this case it is probably because
the police have done a great job over the years making sure they invoke hatred and fear in the average person, and yes, distrust.
Gyanwant Singh was all over the news channels. previously when he was in Murshidabad, anyone could walk into his office - this from an ex-bdo. he has always kept in touch with the masses. when i first called his office for an appointment, the person at the other end of the phone simply offered to pass the call over to him directly 'apni sir'er shongey kotha boley nin na'. he was called in by FM to spread anti drug messages. he was, in brief, beloved of the masses, the human face of the police, someone u could talk to.
right now, see for urselves, he is simply being judged as a policeman, and therefore corrupt. i have talked to people whose opinion i value and respect, and they are of the same oponion. one of them told me 'Rizwan did not see the Gyanwant that u met'. She was right of course. these are all cops, and from what little experience i have, cops are a different species altogether. still, i cant bring myself to believe that Gyanwant was up for sale. for the masses, a lot of them, he is a policeman, no more. for me, he is a human being i happen to know. thats what makes all the difference. if i didnt know him personally, i would have reacted like the rest: police top brass? has to be corrupt.
i say there isnt enough evidence for one very specific reason.
i havent seen a single news report that provides us with Priyanka's version of the story. we dont know, and do not seem very interested in knowing what exactly our ex-hero cop did. it is enough that his name was taken: let us condemn him until proven innocent, and then condemn him some more. never mind his past records. this is what i call lack of evidence.
THE TIMELINE:
=====================================================================================
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070923/asp/bengal/story_8350862.asp
‘Some people came, said I would be murdered’
A STAFF REPORTER
A police jeep burns in Park Circus. Picture by Pradip Sanyal
Calcutta, Sept. 22: Rizwanur Rehman filed an appeal with the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights two days before his mysterious death, the NGO said today.
He had alleged threats by his father-in-law, businessman Ashok Todi, as well as police ever since he got married against the Todi family’s wishes. The APDR claim was backed up by Rizwanur’s sister-in-law Zahida, who said she had taken a peek as the young man keyed the appeal in on his PC.
“He said he wanted to fight till the end and was confident he would bring his wife back home,” Zahida said. Here is part of what the appeal says:
Aug. 18, 2007: Rizwanur and Todi’s daughter marry at registrar Sipra Ghosh’s office.
Aug. 31: The girl leaves the Todi home in Salt Lake, moves into her husband’s home in Tiljala Lane. The couple inform the police commissioner, deputy commissioner (south), the North 24-Parganas superintendent and other officers of their marriage.
Aug. 31 evening: The girl calls Todi, tells him about her marriage. Todi and family members arrive at Rizwanur’s place and try in vain to persuade her to return. Todi calls Karaya police who, too, fail. “They left threatening my family members of arresting all of us,” Rizwanur writes.
Sept. 1: The couple are called to Lalbazar where Sukanta Chakraborty, assistant commissioner (anti-rowdy section), asks the girl to return to her father for a few days. She refuses.
Sept. 3: Some people arrive and tell Rizwanur’s brother Rukbanur and his uncles that “if my wife is not sent back to her parents, I would be kidnapped and murdered”.
Sept. 4: The couple are again summoned to Lalbazar. DC (headquarters) Gyanwant Singh speaks to the girl in the presence of her parents. She tells Singh her parents are mentally torturing her.
Sept. 7: The girl’s aunt comes to the Tiljala house and says Todi is in hospital. The girl refuses to go. Local MLA Jawed Khan arrives and advises the couple to visit Todi.
Sept. 8: The couple are summoned to Lalbazar, and go with Rizwanur’s brother and uncles. Detective chief Ajay Kumar gives them two options: “she must visit her parents for seven days”, else “I will be arrested on a complaint by her father on charges of abduction and stealing valuables and she will be handed over to her parents”.
They accept the first option. Kumar and Chakraborty assure Rizwanur the girl is his legal wife, and he can approach the law if she does not return after seven days. Her uncle Anil Saraogi writes on a plain white paper he is taking her to her parents’ place for seven days.
“We knew perhaps we will never meet again. (We) vowed that if we don’t meet again, we will take our lives.”
Sept. 8 night: Girl calls Rizwanur, says she is at her parents’ place.
Sept. 9: The girl calls him from another mobile, says they must wait for more than seven days as her father is going to Tirupati and other holy places. She says he would not be harmed. Rizwanur says he can wait as long as her parents want him to, provided they speak to him after seven days and take some concrete decisions. He agrees to wait without taking any legal action.
Sept. 11: The girl speaks to Rizwanur the last time, tells him Todi is checking up on him and wants details of his relationship with a college friend that ended in 2004. “Maybe my wife’s parents wanted to influence her that I do not have a good character.”
He had, however, told the girl everything about it. She asks him not to worry. He gives her the college friend’s phone number and address. She says they would meet on Sunday, September 16. “That was the last I heard from my wife….”
Sept. 15: Rizwanur tries in vain to get in touch with his wife and Todi.
Sept. 18: Sadique Hossain, a marriage witness, gets a call apparently from Lalbazar saying he would be physically harmed for “forcing (my wife) into this marriage”.
The Telegraph contacted the commissioner and some of those named in the appeal. Their reactions:
Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee: “We shall inquire into all the allegations.”
Gyanwant: “A well-wisher of the Rehman family brought the couple to me. I spoke to the girl and found out she wanted to stay with her husband. Then they left.”
Kumar: “I merely told Rizwanur a case of kidnapping had been filed against him and he could face arrest unless his wife returned home.
======================================================================================
something seems amiss here: 'a well-wisher from the Rehman family'??
check this out:
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2007-09-23&usrsess=1&clid=6&id=198282
=====================================================================================
Rizwan’s family allege harassment by three top cops
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Sept. 22: The mystery behind Rizwan Rehman's death deepened today as the victim's family members raised allegations that he was threatened by three senior officers of the Kolkata Police before his unnatural death.
The victim's family has lodged a complaint with the Kareya police station and demanded a high-level inquiry by the CID or the CBI. They alleged that Rizwan was being threatened by officers of the Anti Rowdy Section of the city police's detective department. Both Rizwan and his wife Priyanka were called to Lalbazar thrice, where they alleged, Rizwan was harassed.
On 31 August, the couple was called to Lalbazar, and Rizwan was asked to leave Priyanka. When the couple refused, assistant commissioner police (Anti Rowdy Section)DD, Mr S Chakraborty, told Rizwan that he would be implicated in false cases, the victim's relatives alleged.
Three days later, the couple was called again by DC (head quarters) Mr Gyanwant Singh. Rizwan was again threatened.
On 9 September, the deputy commissioner (detective department) Mr Ajay Kumar called them and Rizwan was threatened that his family and career would be doomed if he refused to leave his wife, who is daughter of industrialist Mr Ashok Todi. The harassment continued even after the couple produced their marriage certificate and age proof, Mr J Rehman, the victim's uncle alleged. Even though AC-ARS, Mr S Chakraborty and DC (DD) Mr Ajoy Kumar refused to pick up the phone,
Mr Gyanwant Singh said: “I did not threaten anyone. I spoke with the girl, not the boy.”
The victim's brother, Rukban Rehman said Priyanka and Rizwan had met in a multimedia institute where Rizwan worked. Priyanka was a student there. They fell in love and married on 18 August. They were staying in Rizwan's house. The girl's father, Mr Todi used his contacts in the political circle and Lalbazar to harass Rizwan, Rukban alleged.
“The girl's father signed a bond on 9 September before DC-DD, Mr Ajoy Kumar that he is taking Priyanka home for just seven days. That was the last time the couple saw each other. For three days they kept in touch over the phone. But from 12 September, Priyanka's mobile was switched off,” Rukban alleged.
When this correspondent reached Mr Todi's house at CG-235 in Salt Lake, the house was found locked. His landline number went unanswered and his mobile was switched off. Security guards said the Todi family had left the city on 12 September.
=====================================================================================
so there are multiple versions of Singh's story published. why is there no verification on that? why doesnt anyone bother to publish Priyanka's take on what had happened. or any other form of verification? somehow we are content to condemn. period. the issue is to find out what happened, and who the killer is. the separate issue of who did what in the police is separate. the two are being clubbed, and the focus remains on condemnation first. perhaps that is the way these things are investigated...
the purpose here is to show my point of view of the situation with reference to a specific person. no matter what the investigation turns up - or if it is suppressed like many other cases, i prefer to voice my opinion on the actions of someone i would say is innocent until proven guilty. amen to that.
btw: this is speculation, but Gyanwant's friends must be furious with Mr. Bhadra because he has dared to allege that Singh is involved in a situation where money has changed hands. of course he is involved, and of course he is mentined as one of the four involved who - this is how i like to see it - did not tell the Todis to go to hell and leave the couple alone. Mr. Bhadra is totally within his rights to point a finger at as at the other three. and as he said on television last night, at the CM too, if he wanted. the circumstances do not require that anyone be spared from suspicion. i am writing here about my personal feelings regarding the man: doesnt mean he has to be above suspicion. all i am saying, basically, that I cant believe he is guilty, and that i have my reasons. Mr.Bhadra has every right to say what he wishes to say, and what he has stated already.
bottom line: if i know someone pesonally, i explain away his actions by referring to him as an individual. if i dont, i refer to him as a unit in a group, and condemn or praise him as part of the group with my ideas about the group for reference and facts about the situation in question as i see them. right. thats what i am doing here too.
i wanted to open an NGO to facilitate animal welfare. the wildlife board was in charge of Shri Gyanwant Singh, then DCDD1 (the Detective Department is in charge, by default). I went to Lalbazar, waited for a long time, was ushered inside his room. he was talking to someone, but did not forget to ask me to please sit down with a gesture that showed he was a gentleman, and not because he asked me to sit down. i opened the conversation with "i had sent you this letter (with the letter in hand) through e-mail and through speed post: never received a reply; i assume you did not receive it". without a word he reached out for the letter, read it, and said in accented bengali, " yes, this is a good project - hanh, e to bhalo jinis aachhe". it took me a while to realize that he had actually agreed to be the President of my NGO simply because of the Cause. He was seeing me for the first time, and beyond the fact that i was a college lecturer, he did not know anything about me at all. but he agreed, risking his reputation, should i turn out to be an ordinary cheat trying to make some money through a worthless NGO and seeking protection by using his name.
actually, he might have been a little embarassed at his own goodness of heart, and tried to justify his decision by pointing to the names of the members "these are all good people... i mean, i dont personally know any of them, but all good people in good professions...". i dont know what had made me more happy: the fact that he was helping me make my dream come true, or that i had met a member of a rare species, good human being.
recent controversies have perhaps reduced his fan following, perhaps not - i dont really know or care. i was never his fan, but had liked him instantly. i probably would have liked him even if he had refused to be with my Cause.
i'm sure a lot of us know from personal experience: it does not actually take a lifetime to know a person - u either know him, or u dont. i feel in my heart i know this man. and i believe he is innocent. i think he must have realized that it was beyond his power to help this young man be with his wife and was trying to dissuade him for his own good. assuming this was true - not that i would agree with him if it were, it would make perfect sense why he is being blamed today, along with the others. the commissioner, and most policemen and other public servants forget what they are: public SERVANTS. they are supposed to SERVE, not rule the public. the public, of course, is fully responsible for this. i have watched in disgust and then in apathy, people addressing even the constable of the local police station as 'Sir'. I have felt a certain kind of apprehension when in Lalbazar. they have this visionary of a guest room manager (never met him) who believes in freezing the room even in summer so that glasses fog when u step out... and for people like me who are prone to throat infections and frequent colds, it is a virtual death trap. i chose to remain outside on subsequent visits, but somehow could not bring myself to demand a chair. it took a bit of polite argument to assume this unconventional posture of standing outside even though i was a visitor.
anyway, lets not mix things up: Gyanwant Singh is who he is; he is not Mr. Prasun Mukherjee, and neither is he in charge of the Detective Department now. We have, a lot of us, known and loved the man for his work, for reaching out to the public.. let us at least not condemn him now before he is judged. the official enquiry will bring out the truth and the guilty will be punished, hopefully. i only wish to state as my own very personal belief, that i FIRMLY BELIEVE Mr. Singh will not be one of them (notwithstanding his tendency to shoulder blame to save his juniors). i was trying to contact him today, but he was busy in a meeting. hopefully i shall be able to reach him tomorrow. if he is impatient with me (not likely), i will understand. perhaps i am being naive, but i dont think so. the rest of u out there, please do take sides on this on - or, actually, dont. there is not need for that. lets let justice take its course without wasting time on speculation based on media information. Mr. Sujato Bhadra has done more useful work till date than most policemen - corrupt or otherwise, will do in a lifetime. i am glad he is involved. he will not attack the wrong person. and since i have faith in both these gentlemen, i am kind of resting easy since the beginning of this case.
so far no word on my part for the deceased. well, there is none. there is no controversy regarding the kind of death it was. lets simply wait for justice, and do our bit to see to it that the innocent are NOT put under the sword to save the guilty should they turn out to be too numerous and too powerful.
the police have done a great job over the years making sure they invoke hatred and fear in the average person, and yes, distrust.
Gyanwant Singh was all over the news channels. previously when he was in Murshidabad, anyone could walk into his office - this from an ex-bdo. he has always kept in touch with the masses. when i first called his office for an appointment, the person at the other end of the phone simply offered to pass the call over to him directly 'apni sir'er shongey kotha boley nin na'. he was called in by FM to spread anti drug messages. he was, in brief, beloved of the masses, the human face of the police, someone u could talk to.
right now, see for urselves, he is simply being judged as a policeman, and therefore corrupt. i have talked to people whose opinion i value and respect, and they are of the same oponion. one of them told me 'Rizwan did not see the Gyanwant that u met'. She was right of course. these are all cops, and from what little experience i have, cops are a different species altogether. still, i cant bring myself to believe that Gyanwant was up for sale. for the masses, a lot of them, he is a policeman, no more. for me, he is a human being i happen to know. thats what makes all the difference. if i didnt know him personally, i would have reacted like the rest: police top brass? has to be corrupt.
i say there isnt enough evidence for one very specific reason.
i havent seen a single news report that provides us with Priyanka's version of the story. we dont know, and do not seem very interested in knowing what exactly our ex-hero cop did. it is enough that his name was taken: let us condemn him until proven innocent, and then condemn him some more. never mind his past records. this is what i call lack of evidence.
THE TIMELINE:
=====================================================================================
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070923/asp/bengal/story_8350862.asp
‘Some people came, said I would be murdered’
A STAFF REPORTER
A police jeep burns in Park Circus. Picture by Pradip Sanyal
Calcutta, Sept. 22: Rizwanur Rehman filed an appeal with the Association for Protection of Democratic Rights two days before his mysterious death, the NGO said today.
He had alleged threats by his father-in-law, businessman Ashok Todi, as well as police ever since he got married against the Todi family’s wishes. The APDR claim was backed up by Rizwanur’s sister-in-law Zahida, who said she had taken a peek as the young man keyed the appeal in on his PC.
“He said he wanted to fight till the end and was confident he would bring his wife back home,” Zahida said. Here is part of what the appeal says:
Aug. 18, 2007: Rizwanur and Todi’s daughter marry at registrar Sipra Ghosh’s office.
Aug. 31: The girl leaves the Todi home in Salt Lake, moves into her husband’s home in Tiljala Lane. The couple inform the police commissioner, deputy commissioner (south), the North 24-Parganas superintendent and other officers of their marriage.
Aug. 31 evening: The girl calls Todi, tells him about her marriage. Todi and family members arrive at Rizwanur’s place and try in vain to persuade her to return. Todi calls Karaya police who, too, fail. “They left threatening my family members of arresting all of us,” Rizwanur writes.
Sept. 1: The couple are called to Lalbazar where Sukanta Chakraborty, assistant commissioner (anti-rowdy section), asks the girl to return to her father for a few days. She refuses.
Sept. 3: Some people arrive and tell Rizwanur’s brother Rukbanur and his uncles that “if my wife is not sent back to her parents, I would be kidnapped and murdered”.
Sept. 4: The couple are again summoned to Lalbazar. DC (headquarters) Gyanwant Singh speaks to the girl in the presence of her parents. She tells Singh her parents are mentally torturing her.
Sept. 7: The girl’s aunt comes to the Tiljala house and says Todi is in hospital. The girl refuses to go. Local MLA Jawed Khan arrives and advises the couple to visit Todi.
Sept. 8: The couple are summoned to Lalbazar, and go with Rizwanur’s brother and uncles. Detective chief Ajay Kumar gives them two options: “she must visit her parents for seven days”, else “I will be arrested on a complaint by her father on charges of abduction and stealing valuables and she will be handed over to her parents”.
They accept the first option. Kumar and Chakraborty assure Rizwanur the girl is his legal wife, and he can approach the law if she does not return after seven days. Her uncle Anil Saraogi writes on a plain white paper he is taking her to her parents’ place for seven days.
“We knew perhaps we will never meet again. (We) vowed that if we don’t meet again, we will take our lives.”
Sept. 8 night: Girl calls Rizwanur, says she is at her parents’ place.
Sept. 9: The girl calls him from another mobile, says they must wait for more than seven days as her father is going to Tirupati and other holy places. She says he would not be harmed. Rizwanur says he can wait as long as her parents want him to, provided they speak to him after seven days and take some concrete decisions. He agrees to wait without taking any legal action.
Sept. 11: The girl speaks to Rizwanur the last time, tells him Todi is checking up on him and wants details of his relationship with a college friend that ended in 2004. “Maybe my wife’s parents wanted to influence her that I do not have a good character.”
He had, however, told the girl everything about it. She asks him not to worry. He gives her the college friend’s phone number and address. She says they would meet on Sunday, September 16. “That was the last I heard from my wife….”
Sept. 15: Rizwanur tries in vain to get in touch with his wife and Todi.
Sept. 18: Sadique Hossain, a marriage witness, gets a call apparently from Lalbazar saying he would be physically harmed for “forcing (my wife) into this marriage”.
The Telegraph contacted the commissioner and some of those named in the appeal. Their reactions:
Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee: “We shall inquire into all the allegations.”
Gyanwant: “A well-wisher of the Rehman family brought the couple to me. I spoke to the girl and found out she wanted to stay with her husband. Then they left.”
Kumar: “I merely told Rizwanur a case of kidnapping had been filed against him and he could face arrest unless his wife returned home.
======================================================================================
something seems amiss here: 'a well-wisher from the Rehman family'??
check this out:
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2007-09-23&usrsess=1&clid=6&id=198282
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Rizwan’s family allege harassment by three top cops
Statesman News Service
KOLKATA, Sept. 22: The mystery behind Rizwan Rehman's death deepened today as the victim's family members raised allegations that he was threatened by three senior officers of the Kolkata Police before his unnatural death.
The victim's family has lodged a complaint with the Kareya police station and demanded a high-level inquiry by the CID or the CBI. They alleged that Rizwan was being threatened by officers of the Anti Rowdy Section of the city police's detective department. Both Rizwan and his wife Priyanka were called to Lalbazar thrice, where they alleged, Rizwan was harassed.
On 31 August, the couple was called to Lalbazar, and Rizwan was asked to leave Priyanka. When the couple refused, assistant commissioner police (Anti Rowdy Section)DD, Mr S Chakraborty, told Rizwan that he would be implicated in false cases, the victim's relatives alleged.
Three days later, the couple was called again by DC (head quarters) Mr Gyanwant Singh. Rizwan was again threatened.
On 9 September, the deputy commissioner (detective department) Mr Ajay Kumar called them and Rizwan was threatened that his family and career would be doomed if he refused to leave his wife, who is daughter of industrialist Mr Ashok Todi. The harassment continued even after the couple produced their marriage certificate and age proof, Mr J Rehman, the victim's uncle alleged. Even though AC-ARS, Mr S Chakraborty and DC (DD) Mr Ajoy Kumar refused to pick up the phone,
Mr Gyanwant Singh said: “I did not threaten anyone. I spoke with the girl, not the boy.”
The victim's brother, Rukban Rehman said Priyanka and Rizwan had met in a multimedia institute where Rizwan worked. Priyanka was a student there. They fell in love and married on 18 August. They were staying in Rizwan's house. The girl's father, Mr Todi used his contacts in the political circle and Lalbazar to harass Rizwan, Rukban alleged.
“The girl's father signed a bond on 9 September before DC-DD, Mr Ajoy Kumar that he is taking Priyanka home for just seven days. That was the last time the couple saw each other. For three days they kept in touch over the phone. But from 12 September, Priyanka's mobile was switched off,” Rukban alleged.
When this correspondent reached Mr Todi's house at CG-235 in Salt Lake, the house was found locked. His landline number went unanswered and his mobile was switched off. Security guards said the Todi family had left the city on 12 September.
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so there are multiple versions of Singh's story published. why is there no verification on that? why doesnt anyone bother to publish Priyanka's take on what had happened. or any other form of verification? somehow we are content to condemn. period. the issue is to find out what happened, and who the killer is. the separate issue of who did what in the police is separate. the two are being clubbed, and the focus remains on condemnation first. perhaps that is the way these things are investigated...
the purpose here is to show my point of view of the situation with reference to a specific person. no matter what the investigation turns up - or if it is suppressed like many other cases, i prefer to voice my opinion on the actions of someone i would say is innocent until proven guilty. amen to that.
btw: this is speculation, but Gyanwant's friends must be furious with Mr. Bhadra because he has dared to allege that Singh is involved in a situation where money has changed hands. of course he is involved, and of course he is mentined as one of the four involved who - this is how i like to see it - did not tell the Todis to go to hell and leave the couple alone. Mr. Bhadra is totally within his rights to point a finger at as at the other three. and as he said on television last night, at the CM too, if he wanted. the circumstances do not require that anyone be spared from suspicion. i am writing here about my personal feelings regarding the man: doesnt mean he has to be above suspicion. all i am saying, basically, that I cant believe he is guilty, and that i have my reasons. Mr.Bhadra has every right to say what he wishes to say, and what he has stated already.
bottom line: if i know someone pesonally, i explain away his actions by referring to him as an individual. if i dont, i refer to him as a unit in a group, and condemn or praise him as part of the group with my ideas about the group for reference and facts about the situation in question as i see them. right. thats what i am doing here too.
i wanted to open an NGO to facilitate animal welfare. the wildlife board was in charge of Shri Gyanwant Singh, then DCDD1 (the Detective Department is in charge, by default). I went to Lalbazar, waited for a long time, was ushered inside his room. he was talking to someone, but did not forget to ask me to please sit down with a gesture that showed he was a gentleman, and not because he asked me to sit down. i opened the conversation with "i had sent you this letter (with the letter in hand) through e-mail and through speed post: never received a reply; i assume you did not receive it". without a word he reached out for the letter, read it, and said in accented bengali, " yes, this is a good project - hanh, e to bhalo jinis aachhe". it took me a while to realize that he had actually agreed to be the President of my NGO simply because of the Cause. He was seeing me for the first time, and beyond the fact that i was a college lecturer, he did not know anything about me at all. but he agreed, risking his reputation, should i turn out to be an ordinary cheat trying to make some money through a worthless NGO and seeking protection by using his name.
actually, he might have been a little embarassed at his own goodness of heart, and tried to justify his decision by pointing to the names of the members "these are all good people... i mean, i dont personally know any of them, but all good people in good professions...". i dont know what had made me more happy: the fact that he was helping me make my dream come true, or that i had met a member of a rare species, good human being.
recent controversies have perhaps reduced his fan following, perhaps not - i dont really know or care. i was never his fan, but had liked him instantly. i probably would have liked him even if he had refused to be with my Cause.
i'm sure a lot of us know from personal experience: it does not actually take a lifetime to know a person - u either know him, or u dont. i feel in my heart i know this man. and i believe he is innocent. i think he must have realized that it was beyond his power to help this young man be with his wife and was trying to dissuade him for his own good. assuming this was true - not that i would agree with him if it were, it would make perfect sense why he is being blamed today, along with the others. the commissioner, and most policemen and other public servants forget what they are: public SERVANTS. they are supposed to SERVE, not rule the public. the public, of course, is fully responsible for this. i have watched in disgust and then in apathy, people addressing even the constable of the local police station as 'Sir'. I have felt a certain kind of apprehension when in Lalbazar. they have this visionary of a guest room manager (never met him) who believes in freezing the room even in summer so that glasses fog when u step out... and for people like me who are prone to throat infections and frequent colds, it is a virtual death trap. i chose to remain outside on subsequent visits, but somehow could not bring myself to demand a chair. it took a bit of polite argument to assume this unconventional posture of standing outside even though i was a visitor.
anyway, lets not mix things up: Gyanwant Singh is who he is; he is not Mr. Prasun Mukherjee, and neither is he in charge of the Detective Department now. We have, a lot of us, known and loved the man for his work, for reaching out to the public.. let us at least not condemn him now before he is judged. the official enquiry will bring out the truth and the guilty will be punished, hopefully. i only wish to state as my own very personal belief, that i FIRMLY BELIEVE Mr. Singh will not be one of them (notwithstanding his tendency to shoulder blame to save his juniors). i was trying to contact him today, but he was busy in a meeting. hopefully i shall be able to reach him tomorrow. if he is impatient with me (not likely), i will understand. perhaps i am being naive, but i dont think so. the rest of u out there, please do take sides on this on - or, actually, dont. there is not need for that. lets let justice take its course without wasting time on speculation based on media information. Mr. Sujato Bhadra has done more useful work till date than most policemen - corrupt or otherwise, will do in a lifetime. i am glad he is involved. he will not attack the wrong person. and since i have faith in both these gentlemen, i am kind of resting easy since the beginning of this case.
so far no word on my part for the deceased. well, there is none. there is no controversy regarding the kind of death it was. lets simply wait for justice, and do our bit to see to it that the innocent are NOT put under the sword to save the guilty should they turn out to be too numerous and too powerful.
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