> Of course, I do understand that you had intention was not to >offend. I
What I meant to say is "I do understand that you had NO intention"... Like Karna, I seem to be losing language skills when required:) --Ram On 7/30/05, Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I am sorry if my comments have caused you any offence. That >was certainly > > not my intention > > Of course, I do understand that you had intention was not to offend. I > also understand that being close to 'ground-zero' would change > anyone's prespective on such matters. And no offence taken. > > Some points though: > > The case of Borpujari,if I remember correct, involved the CRPF > (Andhra), and again not the Indian Army. Having been a boarder of 3rd > Mess for a number of years, we too would get chills as we passes by > 2nd Mess everyday. > > > the S.P. gave an order to shoot > > That in it self should clue us in that it wasn't the army. The Army > and the CRPF are totally different forces. In India, only in dire > circumstances is the army deployed. The reason is to keep them at a > distance from the public and use them primarily in the country's > defence and national security. > > The same with Khargeswar Talukdar. We were students at that time and > if did affect all of us deeply. Again it wasn't the army. > > Now, have army personnel ever been on the wrong side? Absolutely, and > one can cite many examples. But the example I was looking for was if > there was a 'standing policy' that the Indian Army had to > shoot-to-kill? I seriously doubt that. > > As for the rapes etc, when individual soldiers go berserk, the Indian > Military Courts of Justice, just does not give them a pat on their > backs and send them on their way. > > These MCJ is extremely strict, and punishments are severe, and not > publized at all. > > To sum it up, what I was trying to get to is this: > > The 3 cops chasing the Brazillian were basically following POLICY when > they shot the young man when he was down on the ground, (obviously > surrendered), and that too 7 times to the head at point blank range > (because the policy states that shooting on the chest may trigger an > explosion etc etc). > > My problem is more to do with a policy terribily gone wrong and not so > much with the cops on the beat. > > There is another thing. If the cops in India had been in a similar > situation, I have little doubt that the whole Western Hemisphere would > be tellling the Indians how to apprehend and capture terrorists and > avoid killing innocent bystanders. Not only that, they would be do so > in a holier-than-thou attitude. > > with warm regards > --Ram > > > > > On 7/30/05, Rini Kakati <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > I am sorry if my comments have caused you any offence. That was certainly > > not my intention. Perhaps it would have been more accurate if I had stated > > that the incidents with the Indian army occur with worrying regularity > > rather than "all the time". > > > > > > By my comments, I am not seeking to make a direct comparison between the > > situation in the UK and India. However I would suggest that a balanced > > picture needs to be drawn. Whilst I now live in the UK, I am an Indian by > > birth. I am not, by my comments seeking to criticise my homeland, far from > > it -- I love the country where I was born and raised. However and perhaps > > because of this, I simply can not ignore the obvious and worrying situation > > which I see and hear about each time I return. > > You have requested examples. I would suggest that you simply consider the > > numerous incidents that are frequently reported in the local newspaper > > covering the area. It was the Indian army in Assam (CRPF Jawans) who rapes > > tribal women in villages while they raid their houses looking for militants > > every now and again. > > > > > > The killing of Ranjit Borpujari at one of the hostel at Cotton College in > > that July morning 1960 is still fresh in my memory. I was only a school > > girl. On that occasion there was a protest demanding Assamese language to be > > officially recognised. As the procession passed the Second Mess in Panbazar, > > number of young boys were playing table-tennis at the forecourt of the > > hostel. As another young boy (still in his pyjamas) coming out of a room, > > the S.P. gave an order to shoot. > > Shots were fired at the group and the boy who was coming out of the room was > > shot in the back of the head and subsequently died. He was Ranjit Borpujari > > -- an innocent young student. Was there a detailed inquiry or investigation > > ? was the officer who gave the order prosecuted or arrested or even > > reprimanded for his actions ? I do not know. All I knew that he was simply > > transferred out of Assam. > > > > > > This incident remains with me to this day, not least as one of my maternal > > uncle Amar Hazarika (Manju mama) who is a champion table-tennis player of > > Assam was also heavily injured along with others -- as a result. > > During Assam agitation in 1980, young boy Khageshsar Talukdar was killed in > > Barpeta when again the S.P. gave an order to shoot at a peaceful > > demonstration. > > > > > > Whilst I appreciate that this incident occurred many years ago, incidents > > like these sadly continue up to the present day. There are numerous similar > > reported incidents where innocent young men are killed by the Indian army > > when they are looking for ULFA or similar. These incidents are simply > > recorded as men "... killed on encounters." A short cold phrase frequently > > used to cover a multitude of sins. > > At the end of the day we are agreed that recent shooting in London was > > extremely sad and unfortunate and I appreciate that you support my stance on > > this issue. > > > > > > Perhaps we should now draw a line under this matter. Hopefully we can agree > > that there are elements of good and bad in all countries and all cultures > > and that it is important that people question incidents where human life is > > violated or taken away, particularly where it arises from an "abuse of > > power". > > Rini Kakati > > > > ________________________________ > > Winks & nudges are here - Download MSN Messenger 7.0 today! > _______________________________________________ Assam mailing list Assam@pikespeak.uccs.edu http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/listinfo/assam Mailing list FAQ: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/assam/assam-faq.html To unsubscribe or change options: http://pikespeak.uccs.edu/mailman/options/assam
