"Didi, aaj main dead body banne se bach gaya", said the 17 year old youth who lived on the streets of Haji Ali.
Normally, he was the most cheerful person around, who always stopped at my desk to crack a joke when he visited the NGO where I worked. That day, he looked shaken
1/n
Normally, he was the most cheerful person around, who always stopped at my desk to crack a joke when he visited the NGO where I worked. That day, he looked shaken
1/n
Gradually, the story emerged.
The previous night, the police had come to round up youth from the flyover where they slept.
"They wanted 3 Muslaman boys. I was the 4th. I escaped." His voice was flat. They had pretended be asleep. Silently praying they would be saved.
2/n
The previous night, the police had come to round up youth from the flyover where they slept.
"They wanted 3 Muslaman boys. I was the 4th. I escaped." His voice was flat. They had pretended be asleep. Silently praying they would be saved.
2/n
"But why?", I asked shocked.
To make them terrorists. They will make them run, then shoot them in the back. The public has to be shown they are doing something.
This was Mumbai in 2010. Soon after 26/11.
Innocents were being rounded up.
Some of my innocence died that day.
3/n
To make them terrorists. They will make them run, then shoot them in the back. The public has to be shown they are doing something.
This was Mumbai in 2010. Soon after 26/11.
Innocents were being rounded up.
Some of my innocence died that day.
3/n
People ask me why I am not happy today.
Because I do not know if the right people have been rounded up and killed.
How can we be sure it wasn't some rich guys who raped and killed, and these youth took the blame? It is always the poor and the marginalised who are dispensable.
4/n
Because I do not know if the right people have been rounded up and killed.
How can we be sure it wasn't some rich guys who raped and killed, and these youth took the blame? It is always the poor and the marginalised who are dispensable.
4/n
If there had been a trial, the facts would have come out. We would know beyond doubt that the accused were guilty. Punishment would have been given to the criminals.
We should have ensured legal process wasn't subverted.
Now we will never know if the guilty have been punished
5/5
We should have ensured legal process wasn't subverted.
Now we will never know if the guilty have been punished
5/5
