Today I was traveling from Pallimukku to Menaka in a public bus. Suddenly there was a big commotion near the ladies seat. Then I saw two burly men beating up a male passenger. The passenger was trying to protest. The more he protested the more beating he received. Those ruffians after giving a severe thrashing got down from the bus at Boat Jetty and walked away very angrily. No one in the bus dared to stop them beating the helpless man. There was hushed silence.After sometime when I enquired, I was told that male passenger was sitting in a ladies seat. A lady wanted to occupy that seat. The man, while getting up, told the lady that there are other vacant seats available and she could sit on one of those seats. This was heard by the two plainclothes policemen. They started beating him black and blue saying how dare he talked to the lady passenger. When he tried to explain, they gave him more thrashing on his head, face and neck, shouting, “Don’t talk!”, “Don’t open your mouth!”, “Shut up!”
As the bus moved on, some questions came up in my mind:
Are these policemen trying to protect that woman’s rights?
What is the crime of the male passenger?
Are these policemen trying to impress the passengers with their brute force?
When there are courts of law, can these cops punish a man on the spot?
If the man has committed a crime, why can’t they take him to the police station, lock him up and file a case against him?
Have these guardians of law been trained to deal with a situation like this?
I am sure you will have some thoughts.
18 comments:
Hi J Chettan, I was waiting to see your posting for the last 3 days. I saw nice posters of films. At present I am at Chennai (last 3 years) and hence i like to see what is happening in and around Cochin. ThanX a lot. May god Bless U. Regards, Paul PS.
Hi Paul :)
Many,many thanks for your encouraging comments.
I am student of Loyola College, Chennai and I passed out way back in 1970. In fact, I started my career in Chennai.
There are many interesting things you can post about Chennai apart from your personal experiences. Hope you will start posting soon.
Regards and best wishes.
Have a wonderful day :)
Hi JP Chettan, ThanX for yr reply without any delay.I think U are from Trichur District...Just a Guess ! My parents are from Kunnamkulam town and I have seen "Pulikottil" house there. Am I correct ? ThanX for all yr gr8 efforts and generous mind. Regards, Paul PS.
hi
nice postings.your thoughts are very different.Are you always going out with a camera.I can see all the shorts in the way.Just now i am studying about the judicial justice system in my social classes and this incident you told is very much related to my lesson.
thanks for sharing your coconut experience..
Hi Paul :)
Your guess is right. I was born in Vylathur which is very close to Kunnamkulam on the Kunnamlulam-Ponnani route.
You are like Sherlock Holmes,the great detective I admire very much.
Best wishes :)
Hi JP Chettan, ThanX for sharing this gr8 piece of information. I know Vylathur on the way from Kottapdi to Ponnani. I am really happy to hear U calling me Sherlock Holmes. After reading yr postings i found that U r a very kind hearted person with a peaceful retired life. May God Bless U for all your efforts to lead people in a kind and loving manner. Regards, Paul PS.
Wow, Joseph, I'm sorry that this happened, but I'm glad that you were there to see and hear what happened so you could share it with us. Your posts always encourage thought, prayer and self-examination.
I recently posted something on my blog that was inspired by your wonderful posts full of pictures. Thank you for being such an inspiration in the lives of those who know you.
God bless you, my friend!
What a weird situation on that bus! All that because of a seat? Incredible! I really can't stand police brutality and those two seem to have gone too far!
Wish I could read hindi to understand the 2nd set of shots...
Hi JM :)
Those second set of photos are movie posters and the language is Malayalam, the language of Malayalis from Kerala.
In India,we have several important languages such as Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Marati,Oriya, Bengali, Gujarathi, Assamese, Punjabhi, Konkani,Kashmiri etc. Hindi is the national language because it is spoken by a large number of people. But each state is very proud of their own language and gives considerable importance.
It is amazing how Indian democracy works because it is a conglomeration of different people speaking different languages who were warring with each other before the British came.
I am sitting here and wondering which country you are going to visit this time.
Have wonderful day :)
That sort of police misconduct happens in the USA sometimes, too. Occasionally, someone is able to record a video of it and send it to the news outlets, and then some action is taken to correct the problem -- usually followed by a lawsuit. The wheels of justice turn slwoly, but they do turn.
Hi Joseph - this is a very sad story and one that happens too often in many places around the world I'm afraid. Some police think they are beyond the law. Is it a crime not to give a lady your seat??? In Australia now it seems first in gets the seat I see ladies standing all the time and men seated but i must admit many women refuse to take a seat when it is offered. I helped an old lady on and off the bus once and the driver went out of his way to thank me saying people just don't help each other anymore - sad state of affairs isn't it?
Many thanks for your interesting comments on your blog. i hope all the girls were impressed with the size and quality of your guavas!!!!
Hi Joseph - this is a very sad story and one that happens too often in many places around the world I'm afraid. Some police think they are beyond the law. Is it a crime not to give a lady your seat??? In Australia now it seems first in gets the seat I see ladies standing all the time and men seated but i must admit many women refuse to take a seat when it is offered. I helped an old lady on and off the bus once and the driver went out of his way to thank me saying people just don't help each other anymore - sad state of affairs isn't it?
Many thanks for your interesting comments on my blog. I hope all the girls were impressed with the size and quality of your guavas!!!!
Hi Joseph,
This is a disturbing report. Yes there is some police brutality here but I doubt ever over an issue like this. I like the law you have that respects women, but maybe a citation with a small fine would have been appropriate, this kind of behavior sparks fear and disruption, a complete disregard for this man's rights. The punishment must suit the crime, this was nothing more than a minor infraction with a felony penalty.
Disturbing,
Fred
Hi Sir,
Nice post. Thoughtful questions... Though I'm unable to judge their action without knowing the real reason... I feel,whatever be the crime, there are certainly more dignified ways to deal a person in Public,
Becuase of this brutality, unconsciously they are paving way for the rise of criminals/terrorists in society.
Photos were also nice. Especially, the cinema posters were satirical!
Thanks for your generous and encouraging comment in my blog.
have a good day :)
Hi Sir,
Nice post. Thoughtful questions... Though I'm unable to judge their action without knowing the real reason... I feel,whatever be the crime, there are certainly more dignified ways to deal a person in Public,
Becuase of this brutality, unconsciously they are paving way for the rise of criminals/terrorists in society.
Photos were also nice. Especially, the cinema posters were satirical!
Thanks for your generous and encouraging comment in my blog.
have a good day :)
Hi Mel :)
I greatly value your words of appreciation and encouragement.
God bless you and your family abundantly.
Have a wonderful day :)
Haha, Joseph, I love your interpretation of the incinerator. Yes, it's true, there are places around the world that can't do without them. But I'm not happy seeing how often my dust bean is full of packaging materials which I would never have wanted to buy.
OK.
But the curious story of this incinerator in Vienna is that it has been "designed" by a Vienna artist 30 years ago and the tower of the thermic power plant looks a monument from Tales from the Orient or so.
It was not meant cynical but it should represent a colourful and creative spot in the middle of a grey town.
It was a different age, I think!
Who would build colourful thermic power plants in our days???
I will read your post tomorrow- I'm tired and I will go to sleep now :)
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