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ISI in Assam: Not a wolf cry anymore
The frantic air-dashes by Union home ministry officials to Assam is telling. The possibility of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence fishing in the troubled demographic waters of the state is not a mere bogey any more. What was an impending threat only a few years back is now a reality. What was a pernicious pathogen till yesterday, has today infected the host and spread to such an extent that its debilitating effects are already beginning to show. The days of crying wolf for politicians are over -- the most subversive activities in Assam today carry the ISI mark.
Demographic realities in the state are murky enough. Ethnic equations are always difficult to understand. But the ISI understands it better than most. Well, enough to upset the wavering demographic equilibrium beyond redemption -- throw life so much out of gear that peace will never return.
The firsts in Indian cinema
The roots of Indian cinema are almost as old as those of the medium itself. Within eight months of taking Paris by storm, the touring agents of Lumiere brothers' Cinematographer landed on the shores of India. On July 7, 1896, The Times of India carried an advertisement heralding the arrival of "the marvel of the century" and "wonder of the world". Four screenings took place that historic evening at Watson's Hotel in Bombay (now Mumbai). The entry fee was one Rupee. The show received an overwhelming response. Motion pictures were subsequently introduced in Calcutta towards the end of the year, and in Madras (now Chennai) in the next.
The girl who thrashed a soldier for trying to molest her. Hai jawan!
Photo © NDTV
The history of the Northeast is the history of romantic insurgencies and pyrrhic wars, devastating blasts and brutal carnages, internecine squabbles and ethnic clashes, political chicanery and myopic governance, and what have you. It is also the history of atrocities. By the agents of the State.
When Naga women were raped on church pulpits by the sacrosanct Indian forces, it was something that never coalesced into the form of news. But these days some news do trickle out.
Like that of a gutsy girl in Haflong who took on a group of Army jawans, sometime in the last week of July.
Rali Faihriem owns a branded garment shop in the middle of Halflong town. Lancenaik Gurvinder Singh of the 8th Battalion of the Sikh Regiment visited the shop, in combat dress with arms, on Wednesday afternoon to buy innerwear. When the girl was showing him the stock available at her shop, the jawan allegedly made some advances. Rali then pulled him out of the shop and stoned him in front of everyone.
The incident was captured on a cellphone camera by one Diganta Das, a stringer with NDTV. The Army has ordered an inquiry into the incident after Rali filed an FIR.
The chances are nine out of ten that you didn't hear or read about this. You didn't on NDTV because it was not blown up. You didn't on the other channels because no one followed it up. In India, those of the Army are holy cows. You don't report Army atrocities as you report the same about terrorists, militants, insurgents.
The story was followed up in a few newspapers. Very balanced reporting, you know. All you had was the defence spokesman Rajesh Kalia's version about the Army ordering an inquiry into the incident.The copies in the Telegraph, the Times of India and the Daily News & Analysis are littered with the words "allegedly" and "allegation". Extremely balanced, agree?
There were no reactions from the girl. Or anyone else. Very balanced reporting indeed.
It is a different thing that we never get to know what happens to these Army inquiries. Something to do with official secrets and all? Ok, I will let that pass and ask something else: how long are we going to sweep news about Army atrocities under the carpet? You still can do or write something if the perpetrators are paramilitary forces or policemen. But Armymen? Nah.
[You can read the NDTV story here: http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/assams_joan_of_arc_girl_beats_army_jawan.php, though you might think the 'Joan of Arc' headline was taking colour copies a bit too far.]
i saw this subir-glad she taught this guy a lesson
Kudos to the girl !!
Hey, thanks for posting this. This should be an inspiration to all girls to teach 'em a$&*#% a lesson.
Good going - some of the highhandedness of the army is evident even in daily life in some parts of the North East- like when you are driving out of Guwahati - on the highways, these jawans behave like the "Lord" of all they can survey. Wont ever let you pass by car.....its one thing to be doing insurgency work. And another to be throwing their weight around - over ordinary people. Even the BSF trucks dont let you pass! This I have observed even when I was a kid.
i am not condoning this act - or indeed, any atrocities by the army, on civilians. but let us be balanced here - these guys are living in extreme conditions for the most part, dealing with situations that are not of their making or asking which ought to be better handled by concerned local police forces.not only do they live away from their ... Read morefamiliies, from normal daily conditions as you and i know it, but, very often, they live in isolation. all of this can play havoc with the mind...
i reiterate - i do not condone atrocities, and, when the army says "suitable action will be taken" it will follow up most harshly on that - but that's for internal consumption. i know what i'm talking about...was part of the system for 22 years..
btw, what is seen as 'highhandedness' e.g. blocking roads etc, very often does have a) a valid reason (especially in the north-east and kashmir) or b) the poor sap is just following orders from higher-up. that said, if someone is pulling rank, you are well within your rights to take his name and rank down and report him.
(and yes, I have lived in both sectors)
Punam - I am sorry if I did not write to the point - I dont think I said "blocking roads"....if there is a reason to block roads, that is fine...it is part of the work............. .I meant even basic courtesies on the road where a car/jeep wants to overtake the army truck but no - the army truck will keep driving without giving an opportunity to ... Read moreovertake them. This is what I was referring to. Even the BSF fellas! This is during peace times - in peaceful areas! Plus the gun toting soldiers dont even let their driver know that it is time to let someone pass their vehicle.
It sounds like you lived in both J&K and North East - was it in the army? or more as a civilian?
i dont see where the quesiotn of balance comes in here? this particular incident is an atrocity and has to be condemned. and those who have been perpetrating atrocities all tehse years have to be condemned. it is all fine to talk of the tough times that jawns have to lead..but talking of the mindsets nad backgrounds of those who perpetrate crimes ... Read moremake for good academic discussion. make for good colour stories. but don't assuage the pains that people have to go through. as you say punam you were part of the army system. perhaps if you have to bear teh brunt of security forces you will change your opinion. i reall don't think you have been shoved around by security forces. searched? humiliated? abused?
it is also fine to say "report him" maybe you can do that when you are part of that army system. but try doing the same thing when you are a so-called civilian. if this reporting thing had worked, the history of the northeast would not have been replete with atrocities. when one lives as a woman in a conflict situaiton where one's dad is not a ... Read morepolitician and where one's husband is not an army officer and where one's brother is not an influential businessman, you will have an entirely different perspective which goes slightly beyond a balanced outlook. it is called the outlook of a victim. and the more you talk of taking a balanced view of army atrocities (as also that of all others), the more you stand in the danger of condoning the same atrocities that you would otherwise condemn.
i will tend to agree with roshmi on this one. where indeed is the question of balance?
punam, if you read the original piece you will realise that the coverage was toned down. had the same thing been done by a militant and had a girl chased him out, it would have been page one anchor. it would have been flashed a zillion times on TV. the balance, sorry, is tilted on the other side.
yeah subir it makes my blood boil to even think that someone will ask me to take a "balanced" view of any atrocity being committed on me. be it army fellas or ulfa hoodlums or anyone. it is like saying "hey the rape was a crime, but you must also try to unedrstand the poor rapist's mindset. pooor fella was so horny you know" hah. disgusting
The girl who hit the soldier must be recommended for a bravery award.
good going girl more power to her .as law keepers the first and foremost duty of the forces be they army or police is to abide by the law themselves and not believe that they are above it..unfortunately , not just in the northeast , everywhere in India the law keepers often tend to believe that they are above the law...and get away with even murder at times with impunity
susmita: it would be such a travesty if a girl were to be given a bravery award for a fight she put up against an indian "soldier"
rana: yo yo yo! the catchword there is "impunity"!
the man should be punished if he is at fault. However his being in the army should not be a shoulder to fire from for vested interests.
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