NOIDA incidents:
Collusion, Connivance, or callous Incompetence?
By Maxwell Pereira
mfjpkamath@gmail.com
It was a bit queasy to read in a national newspaper today about the NOIDA police “pressurising into surrendering in court” a notorious criminal suspected to be behind last Tuesday’s horrendous crimes of killing an ex-airhostess and shooting a former army Lt. General! In the policing I knew, we did not pressurise or persuade criminals to surrender in court – we just went and arrested them, or at least endeavoured sincerely to arrest.
What more, it is learnt the criminal – Jatinder Yadav @ Lachchu, who was also wanted for previous crimes, actually did surrender and was remanded by the court to judicial custody – from where the police intend to get him on remand, to question him for his involvement in the latest crimes of April 8 in NOIDA.
The blatant shooting spree at point blank range in which Lt. Genl. TJS Gill was shot and air-hostess Sheeba Thomas was killed has effectively spread terror and sent the sense of security around plummeting, as also shocked the collective conscience of the people; as did similar incidents that occurred in Delhi’s Kalkaji, Masjid Moth and Ashok Vihar areas just a day before. It now turns out the reported two NOIDA incidents were preceded by three other similar earlier the same night – which were not acted upon promptly by the police dispensation there, despite knowledge – resulting in the more serious shootings that followed. Such callousness does not help improve the already low police image, nor does it help the ‘police cause’ while defending the service they otherwise render.
In police parlance persuading, pressurising or letting a criminal surrender in court was always viewed with suspicion; and considered as conniving or colluding with the criminal, by affording him an opportunity to escape being ‘properly’ interrogated by the police. In fact the practice has always been the other way around – with police parties lying in wait outside court premises to nab a criminal when he makes the attempt, whenever there is the slightest hint of a possible surrender.
Also, more often than not notorious wanted men have been known to surrender before courts in districts not their own, or of neighbouring states. Till Delhi Police gained its reputation for ‘encounters’ most wanted UP gangsters were known to surrender in Delhi for fear of being eliminated by trigger-happy, medal-seeking UP cops back home. This would more often than not be achieved through a known Delhi police contact who could then claim credit for the arrest. To facilitate local jurisdiction, would at best be foisted on the criminal a minor offence like under the arms act – with full cooperation from the criminal of course! The surrendered daku could then cool his heels in a Delhi jail in relative safety away from his tormentors till heat wears off, or is convenient perhaps for him to secure bail and re-emerge on the scene when his political mentors are back in the saddle.
Not only UP-gangsters, but other criminals and wanted suspects did it too: Sushil Sharma of the infamous Tandoor murder case of the mid-nineties tried similarly to surrender in a court in Chennai, and ultimately did succeed in surrendering before a suburban court in Bangalore Rural District – in an attempt to be incarcerated in a Karnataka jail just so he could escape the clutches of Delhi Police which had launched a nation-wide hunt for him. More recently, the now convicted IPS officer RK Sharma had surrendered before a court in Ambala, when Delhi Police were gunning for him in the Shivani Bhatnagar murder case.
The incidents of Delhi and NOIDA catapulting to the fore negative aspects of police laxity, perceived incompetence and/or collusion, has come at a time when the police leadership in the country is battling to highlight the grossly discriminatory treatment that’s been meted out to the police services in the recently publicised recommendations of the 6th Pay Commission. Police in the country are a demoralised lot today, with each successive pay commission downgrading their pay-structure and increasing the existing disparities vis-à-vis corresponding levels in other services. Relegating the police in whose hands the internal security of the country and its people is entrusted, to a pedantry plebian status, does not augur well for the nation or its people. Neglecting any further the just demands of the police services will only be to the detriment of the already dying criminal justice system in the country.
Back to the NOIDA incidents, the Mayavati government it appears has acted – albeit superficially and to save face – axing the concerned station house officer and the control room in-charge, by placing them under suspension for laxity in the performance of their duties. Finding scapegoats to put the blame on post the incident is all very well. But does this really hold water? What about addressing the maladies that perennially plague police functioning? What about changing the collusive police mind set and non-responsive attitudes? More importantly, what about some dignity of a decent pay to possibly lift them out of the morass of corruption? And lastly, what about providing the basic policing infrastructure of manpower and equipment needed?
11.04.2008: Copyright © Maxwell Pereira
Monday, 19 May 2008
Can Indians be less loud? : 07 Apr 2008
Can Indians ever be less loud?
By Maxwell Pereira
Mumbai Police’s initiative to observe a 'No Honking Day' on Monday April 07 has a deeper message. It being World Health Day, it aims to focus on noise pollution that impacts citizens’ health. In their initiative, a host of NGOs, automobile associations, as well as schools and colleges were roped in to sensitize motorists about the campaign. Also the local FM radio stations and a lot of publicity through hoardings, banners, posters and stickers across the city to promote their appeal, asking motorists to abstain from honking for a day.
Not many are conversant about noise pollution laws. Basically noise levels above 80dB (decibels) are considered detrimental to healthy hearing. And for normal tension free conversation one requires a background noise level of <55dB.
However, Government itself is the first violator of these norms – since noise standards prescribed in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules–1989 (CMVR) for most categories of vehicle are above 80dB. Except for petrol-driven two-wheelers for which the limit is 80 dB(A), for passenger cars and other petrol-driven vehicles it is 82 dB(A). For passenger or LCVs including three-wheeled vehicles with diesel engines upto 4000 Kgs. – 85 dB(A); for passenger or commercial vehicles above 4000 and upto 12000 Kgs - 89 dB(A); and above 12000 Kgs. - 91 dB(A).
Compared to this, the acceptable noise levels prescribed in USA by the Federal Highway Administration are – for parks and open spaces, the exterior limits to be not above 60 dB(A), for residential areas within the buildings - 55 dB(A) and outside the buildings - 70 dB(A) and for other developed areas 75 dB(A).
Noise has been defined variously. Physically, ‘Noise is a complex sound with little or no periodicity’. Acoustically, ‘Noise is defined as a signal that bears no information and whose intensity varies randomly and in time’. Psychologically, ‘Noise is any sound which is unpleasant or unwanted’. Commonly, it is the last definition that affects and touches every soul.
Increasing urbanization has led to mounting volumes of noise, intruding upon the quality of life and privacy of urban dwellers. The annoyance and discomfort caused by noise at times assume serious proportion meriting urgent attention.
Noise is conventionally measured in terms of the pressure of sound wave. All government authorities and international standards specify exposure levels in terms of decibels applicable over an eight-hour exposure, with a peak exposure level. Noise in cities is a result of a number of activities and factors such as road traffic, aircraft, railways and industrial and constructional works. Widespread prevalence of high intensity levels of sound from all these activities in our environment is termed as noise pollution.
Without going into the wide gamut of noise sources, let me herein tackle noise emanating from road traffic. The generation of noise from automobile machinery as well as the widespread use of horns is a major contributor to the level of ambient noise in Indian cities today.
Detrimental effects of traffic noise can be under 3 major groups – subjective, behavioural, and physiological. Subjective effects are annoyance, disturbance, dissatisfaction, bother and noisiness – difficult to measure precisely, because of wide variation among subjects in describing what level of sound causes them discomfort. Behavioural effects cover – interference with sleep, speech or any general task. Noise wakens people, or impairs quality of sleep and its duration. Sleep disturbance is common in high noise areas where it takes longer to fall off to sleep with greater chances of waking up. Noise can cause interference in speech and in the enjoyment of audio and visual programmes; also cause disturbance in studies and intellectual pursuits. It can upset balance between stress and recuperation and thus cause chronic fatigue, reduced efficiency and increase incidence of ailments.
Physiological effects are those that startle or cause fright phenomenon that can result in harmful effects on various parts of the body. Exposure to noise can raise blood pressure; accelerate heart rate, contract blood vessels; increase muscular tension and at extremely high levels and long periods of exposure, may produce deafness.
Noise caused by road traffic can be – that from various parts of the vehicle; that contributed by interaction between vehicle and road surface; and noise dependant on speed, and flow or density of traffic. Contributing elements from the vehicle itself being – engine (power unit, especially during acceleration); the inlet and exhaust; propulsion and transmission including gears and brakes; the horn; the chassis and body structure; the load factor in the vehicle and also ‘door slamming’. In effect, the horn is just one of the contributors!
Two-wheelers are generally noisier than cars. Commercial trucks worse, because of the larger horse power of the diesel engine and the heavy loads they carry. As vehicles grow older and their mechanical conditions deteriorate, their noise condition becomes more. In tyre/road-surface interaction, smooth surfaces generally produce less noise than rough ones. Grooved cement concrete pavements and wet surfaces too being a source of annoying noise to the neighbourhood.
As traffic increases, the noise level inevitably rises. Higher speeds cause higher noise levels – at lower speeds influence of engine and transmission more predominant – at high, the tyre-surface interaction assuming greater importance. Noise levels increase during acceleration.
Control of traffic noise can be considered with – changes in vehicle design; changes in tyres or road surfaces; elimination of noisier vehicles; modification in traffic operations and designing streets, buildings and areas that produce less noise. Changes in tyre-tread design and composition can reduce noise. Smoother surfaces result in less noisier roads – but this has simultaneously to be balanced against the required skid resistance factor of the tyres too. And legislative measures can prevent old vehicles from being used on roads.
Measures possible in traffic operations are – re-routing of commercial vehicles and buses to the extent possible from predominantly residential areas; providing bypasses on Ring Roads to siphon-off through traffic entering town; providing synchronized traffic signals to reduce the ‘stop and go’ traffic flow and consequently eliminating acceleration noise; and prohibiting the blowing of horns by proper signage and enforcement strategies. In addition to standard silent zones, the Delhi Traffic Police in 2002 banned honking at all signalized junctions too.
The CMVR require a motor vehicle to be fitted with an electric horn for purposes of warning only. It specifies against the use of any multi-toned horn or other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill or alarming noise. Ambulances, fire engines, salvage vehicles or those of police and motor vehicles department are permitted the use of such sound signals (sirens) as may be approved by the authority. Every motor vehicle is required to be fitted with a silencer to reduce to the extent practicable the noise that would otherwise escape from exhaust gases. The Rules of the Road Regulations – 1989 further prohibit a driver from sounding the horn needlessly or continuously or violate the silence zone regulations; or drive a vehicle that creates noise when in motion; and against driving a vehicle with a defective muffler causing alarming sounds.
April 07, 2008: copyright (c) Maxwell Pereira
By Maxwell Pereira
Mumbai Police’s initiative to observe a 'No Honking Day' on Monday April 07 has a deeper message. It being World Health Day, it aims to focus on noise pollution that impacts citizens’ health. In their initiative, a host of NGOs, automobile associations, as well as schools and colleges were roped in to sensitize motorists about the campaign. Also the local FM radio stations and a lot of publicity through hoardings, banners, posters and stickers across the city to promote their appeal, asking motorists to abstain from honking for a day.
Not many are conversant about noise pollution laws. Basically noise levels above 80dB (decibels) are considered detrimental to healthy hearing. And for normal tension free conversation one requires a background noise level of <55dB.
However, Government itself is the first violator of these norms – since noise standards prescribed in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules–1989 (CMVR) for most categories of vehicle are above 80dB. Except for petrol-driven two-wheelers for which the limit is 80 dB(A), for passenger cars and other petrol-driven vehicles it is 82 dB(A). For passenger or LCVs including three-wheeled vehicles with diesel engines upto 4000 Kgs. – 85 dB(A); for passenger or commercial vehicles above 4000 and upto 12000 Kgs - 89 dB(A); and above 12000 Kgs. - 91 dB(A).
Compared to this, the acceptable noise levels prescribed in USA by the Federal Highway Administration are – for parks and open spaces, the exterior limits to be not above 60 dB(A), for residential areas within the buildings - 55 dB(A) and outside the buildings - 70 dB(A) and for other developed areas 75 dB(A).
Noise has been defined variously. Physically, ‘Noise is a complex sound with little or no periodicity’. Acoustically, ‘Noise is defined as a signal that bears no information and whose intensity varies randomly and in time’. Psychologically, ‘Noise is any sound which is unpleasant or unwanted’. Commonly, it is the last definition that affects and touches every soul.
Increasing urbanization has led to mounting volumes of noise, intruding upon the quality of life and privacy of urban dwellers. The annoyance and discomfort caused by noise at times assume serious proportion meriting urgent attention.
Noise is conventionally measured in terms of the pressure of sound wave. All government authorities and international standards specify exposure levels in terms of decibels applicable over an eight-hour exposure, with a peak exposure level. Noise in cities is a result of a number of activities and factors such as road traffic, aircraft, railways and industrial and constructional works. Widespread prevalence of high intensity levels of sound from all these activities in our environment is termed as noise pollution.
Without going into the wide gamut of noise sources, let me herein tackle noise emanating from road traffic. The generation of noise from automobile machinery as well as the widespread use of horns is a major contributor to the level of ambient noise in Indian cities today.
Detrimental effects of traffic noise can be under 3 major groups – subjective, behavioural, and physiological. Subjective effects are annoyance, disturbance, dissatisfaction, bother and noisiness – difficult to measure precisely, because of wide variation among subjects in describing what level of sound causes them discomfort. Behavioural effects cover – interference with sleep, speech or any general task. Noise wakens people, or impairs quality of sleep and its duration. Sleep disturbance is common in high noise areas where it takes longer to fall off to sleep with greater chances of waking up. Noise can cause interference in speech and in the enjoyment of audio and visual programmes; also cause disturbance in studies and intellectual pursuits. It can upset balance between stress and recuperation and thus cause chronic fatigue, reduced efficiency and increase incidence of ailments.
Physiological effects are those that startle or cause fright phenomenon that can result in harmful effects on various parts of the body. Exposure to noise can raise blood pressure; accelerate heart rate, contract blood vessels; increase muscular tension and at extremely high levels and long periods of exposure, may produce deafness.
Noise caused by road traffic can be – that from various parts of the vehicle; that contributed by interaction between vehicle and road surface; and noise dependant on speed, and flow or density of traffic. Contributing elements from the vehicle itself being – engine (power unit, especially during acceleration); the inlet and exhaust; propulsion and transmission including gears and brakes; the horn; the chassis and body structure; the load factor in the vehicle and also ‘door slamming’. In effect, the horn is just one of the contributors!
Two-wheelers are generally noisier than cars. Commercial trucks worse, because of the larger horse power of the diesel engine and the heavy loads they carry. As vehicles grow older and their mechanical conditions deteriorate, their noise condition becomes more. In tyre/road-surface interaction, smooth surfaces generally produce less noise than rough ones. Grooved cement concrete pavements and wet surfaces too being a source of annoying noise to the neighbourhood.
As traffic increases, the noise level inevitably rises. Higher speeds cause higher noise levels – at lower speeds influence of engine and transmission more predominant – at high, the tyre-surface interaction assuming greater importance. Noise levels increase during acceleration.
Control of traffic noise can be considered with – changes in vehicle design; changes in tyres or road surfaces; elimination of noisier vehicles; modification in traffic operations and designing streets, buildings and areas that produce less noise. Changes in tyre-tread design and composition can reduce noise. Smoother surfaces result in less noisier roads – but this has simultaneously to be balanced against the required skid resistance factor of the tyres too. And legislative measures can prevent old vehicles from being used on roads.
Measures possible in traffic operations are – re-routing of commercial vehicles and buses to the extent possible from predominantly residential areas; providing bypasses on Ring Roads to siphon-off through traffic entering town; providing synchronized traffic signals to reduce the ‘stop and go’ traffic flow and consequently eliminating acceleration noise; and prohibiting the blowing of horns by proper signage and enforcement strategies. In addition to standard silent zones, the Delhi Traffic Police in 2002 banned honking at all signalized junctions too.
The CMVR require a motor vehicle to be fitted with an electric horn for purposes of warning only. It specifies against the use of any multi-toned horn or other sound producing device giving an unduly harsh, shrill or alarming noise. Ambulances, fire engines, salvage vehicles or those of police and motor vehicles department are permitted the use of such sound signals (sirens) as may be approved by the authority. Every motor vehicle is required to be fitted with a silencer to reduce to the extent practicable the noise that would otherwise escape from exhaust gases. The Rules of the Road Regulations – 1989 further prohibit a driver from sounding the horn needlessly or continuously or violate the silence zone regulations; or drive a vehicle that creates noise when in motion; and against driving a vehicle with a defective muffler causing alarming sounds.
April 07, 2008: copyright (c) Maxwell Pereira
Like Father Like Son: Rahul Gandhi breaks security cordon: 28 Mar 2008
India eNews - News at its best!
Politics Friday, March 28, 2008
Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son
By Maxwell Pereira. India, 10:31 AM IST
'Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip in Naxal heartland', read the headline recently. That was soon after his visit to a tribal village in a Maoist-infested area in Orissa when the MP, who is scion of the extremely vulnerable Gandhi family, ducked out of the Koraput SP's security cordon and melted into the night, accompanied by only a few personal SPG (Special Protection Group) guards.
His father Rajiv Gandhi was famous for doing such things, and his grandmother too. Very adept at playing to the masses, the crowds loved Indira Gandhi chiding the police at almost every public gathering she addressed: 'Aap police-wale hat jai-ye... kyon hamaare aur hamare Janta ke beech aate hain aap? Matt kijiye janta ko tung!' (You policemen, move aside! Why do you come between me and my people? Stop harassing the people!) The crowd lapped it up.
Indira Gandhi was fully aware that policemen deployed on bandobast duties were but doing their assigned tasks; that one slip on their part would invariably be viewed seriously, would perhaps cost them even their job... and more particularly, any lapse or laxity on their part could hamper and endanger her own security.And yet she indulged in her game for public image, for political mileage. In her political life, she needed to be totally reliant on the policemen that surrounded her; who protected her person. What irony then that she was done to death by one of her own security men! However political, communal, vengeful reasons that killing was or turned out to be!
Rajiv was a different cup of tea. The suave gadget-crazy, techno-savvy young prime minister was a know-all. He believed no one could manage his security better than himself. It was immediately after his taking over as PM soon after his mother's assassination that the Special Protection Group was created.Giving the slip to his own security was not unknown. Perhaps there was a method in this kind of madness. The surprise element being one of the best security affording factors, an unplanned movement or an incognito visit does at times work to one's advantage.
No one could teach him better in these matters. He believed in and contributed to the legal maxim: 'the King can do no wrong'. Yes, his royal self was beyond law... laws were meant for lesser mortals. Especially speeding laws...In a move meant to be progressive, Rajiv introduced the five-day working week in place of the then existing six-day working week for government establishments. Was it to improve efficiency? Did it? ...I wouldn't know! But speculation then was rife - it was because Sonia put her foot down insisting on the weekend culture of the west - work hard and really well during the week, but spare the weekend for the family!
And a family weekend meant the family farmhouse in Mehrauli. It was a routine weekend ritual for us then to lay on route arrangements for PM Rajiv's 'to and fro' farmhouse journeys. Nightmares, if one were to recall those weekends of the mid-80s.On most of his movements and especially during his private weekend visits to the Mehrauli farm, Rajiv drove his own reddish brown modified and reinforced Jonga. And he drove fast, breaking every prescribed speed limit in creation. Rajiv's penchant for speed was well known. It was as if he tried beating his own previous record on each new visit - be it to the farm, be it to the airport!
I remember an incident. Mukund Upadhye, a long time colleague in the traffic department on supervisory duty, was following Rajiv's Jonga in his own traffic gypsy, trying to keep pace. The speeding Jonga suddenly came to a halt, Rajiv got down and walked back to Mukund's Gypsy, reached through the window and across him to the keys. Which he snatched and walked back to his Jonga - without uttering a word, leaving behind a stunned and petrified Mukund. Just to stop the Gypsy from following!
It was common for the security pilot vehicle to be overtaken and left by the wayside and often the security escort vehicles could not keep up. There were times too when the escort drivers lost control and sent their vehicles into a spin or landed them on their top. There were times when the speeding Jonga surprised and hit the unsuspecting intruder on the route, a roadside bin or shrub. No one dared whisper a sound. Only a confidential report to the police headquarters filed routinely, week after week!And now it's Rahul's turn. He has started well, in the footsteps of his father. His cocky arrogance says it all. It was not for the Koraput police to be miffed! To hell with security rules and regulations. They are not for 'The Manor Born' - the one tipped to be the PM in waiting!
I believe there is no error in the formula 'the King can do no wrong' when the King is the embodiment of truth and what's right. But he who sets out to reduce the King to human blood and bones and to confine what's right within the limits of human frailties, in all likelihood will suffer his head in forfeit. God forbid!
(Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. He can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com)
---------------------------------------------------
I was told this piece has run in the London newspapers too today, in addition to papers across the world.... You could access the piece by just Google-ing "like father like son"
On a Google search, the first page (reproduced below) of what I could locate gives you just a few of the easily accessible sites.........
Maxwell
India eNews - Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like sonRahul breaks security cordon - like father like son. Email · Print · Download PDF · Comments (0). By Maxwell Pereira. India, 10:31 AM IST ...www.indiaenews.com/politics/20080328/107108.htm - 9 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son @ NewKerala ...Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son. By Maxwell Pereira: "Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip in Naxal heartland", read the headline recently. ...www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=40673 - 10 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!Rahul breaks security- like father like son ... (Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. He can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com) ...mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=72585&newstype=local - 40k - 10 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
» Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son - Thaindian News(Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. ... RSS feed for comments on Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son ...www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/rahul-breaks-security-cordon-like-father-like-son_10032072.html - 11 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
andhracafe.com - Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like sonRahul breaks security cordon - like father like son - 'Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip ... (Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. ...www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=32761 - 10 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Manorama Online HomeRahul plays to the gallery: like father like son - By Maxwell Pereira ... His father Rajiv Gandhi was famous for doing such things, and his grandmother too. ...week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=3773750&programId=107... - 9 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Politics Friday, March 28, 2008
Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son
By Maxwell Pereira. India, 10:31 AM IST
'Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip in Naxal heartland', read the headline recently. That was soon after his visit to a tribal village in a Maoist-infested area in Orissa when the MP, who is scion of the extremely vulnerable Gandhi family, ducked out of the Koraput SP's security cordon and melted into the night, accompanied by only a few personal SPG (Special Protection Group) guards.
His father Rajiv Gandhi was famous for doing such things, and his grandmother too. Very adept at playing to the masses, the crowds loved Indira Gandhi chiding the police at almost every public gathering she addressed: 'Aap police-wale hat jai-ye... kyon hamaare aur hamare Janta ke beech aate hain aap? Matt kijiye janta ko tung!' (You policemen, move aside! Why do you come between me and my people? Stop harassing the people!) The crowd lapped it up.
Indira Gandhi was fully aware that policemen deployed on bandobast duties were but doing their assigned tasks; that one slip on their part would invariably be viewed seriously, would perhaps cost them even their job... and more particularly, any lapse or laxity on their part could hamper and endanger her own security.And yet she indulged in her game for public image, for political mileage. In her political life, she needed to be totally reliant on the policemen that surrounded her; who protected her person. What irony then that she was done to death by one of her own security men! However political, communal, vengeful reasons that killing was or turned out to be!
Rajiv was a different cup of tea. The suave gadget-crazy, techno-savvy young prime minister was a know-all. He believed no one could manage his security better than himself. It was immediately after his taking over as PM soon after his mother's assassination that the Special Protection Group was created.Giving the slip to his own security was not unknown. Perhaps there was a method in this kind of madness. The surprise element being one of the best security affording factors, an unplanned movement or an incognito visit does at times work to one's advantage.
No one could teach him better in these matters. He believed in and contributed to the legal maxim: 'the King can do no wrong'. Yes, his royal self was beyond law... laws were meant for lesser mortals. Especially speeding laws...In a move meant to be progressive, Rajiv introduced the five-day working week in place of the then existing six-day working week for government establishments. Was it to improve efficiency? Did it? ...I wouldn't know! But speculation then was rife - it was because Sonia put her foot down insisting on the weekend culture of the west - work hard and really well during the week, but spare the weekend for the family!
And a family weekend meant the family farmhouse in Mehrauli. It was a routine weekend ritual for us then to lay on route arrangements for PM Rajiv's 'to and fro' farmhouse journeys. Nightmares, if one were to recall those weekends of the mid-80s.On most of his movements and especially during his private weekend visits to the Mehrauli farm, Rajiv drove his own reddish brown modified and reinforced Jonga. And he drove fast, breaking every prescribed speed limit in creation. Rajiv's penchant for speed was well known. It was as if he tried beating his own previous record on each new visit - be it to the farm, be it to the airport!
I remember an incident. Mukund Upadhye, a long time colleague in the traffic department on supervisory duty, was following Rajiv's Jonga in his own traffic gypsy, trying to keep pace. The speeding Jonga suddenly came to a halt, Rajiv got down and walked back to Mukund's Gypsy, reached through the window and across him to the keys. Which he snatched and walked back to his Jonga - without uttering a word, leaving behind a stunned and petrified Mukund. Just to stop the Gypsy from following!
It was common for the security pilot vehicle to be overtaken and left by the wayside and often the security escort vehicles could not keep up. There were times too when the escort drivers lost control and sent their vehicles into a spin or landed them on their top. There were times when the speeding Jonga surprised and hit the unsuspecting intruder on the route, a roadside bin or shrub. No one dared whisper a sound. Only a confidential report to the police headquarters filed routinely, week after week!And now it's Rahul's turn. He has started well, in the footsteps of his father. His cocky arrogance says it all. It was not for the Koraput police to be miffed! To hell with security rules and regulations. They are not for 'The Manor Born' - the one tipped to be the PM in waiting!
I believe there is no error in the formula 'the King can do no wrong' when the King is the embodiment of truth and what's right. But he who sets out to reduce the King to human blood and bones and to confine what's right within the limits of human frailties, in all likelihood will suffer his head in forfeit. God forbid!
(Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. He can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com)
---------------------------------------------------
I was told this piece has run in the London newspapers too today, in addition to papers across the world.... You could access the piece by just Google-ing "like father like son"
On a Google search, the first page (reproduced below) of what I could locate gives you just a few of the easily accessible sites.........
Maxwell
India eNews - Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like sonRahul breaks security cordon - like father like son. Email · Print · Download PDF · Comments (0). By Maxwell Pereira. India, 10:31 AM IST ...www.indiaenews.com/politics/20080328/107108.htm - 9 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son @ NewKerala ...Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son. By Maxwell Pereira: "Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip in Naxal heartland", read the headline recently. ...www.newkerala.com/one.php?action=fullnews&id=40673 - 10 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Mangalorean.Com- Serving Mangaloreans Around The World!Rahul breaks security- like father like son ... (Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. He can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com) ...mangalorean.com/news.php?newsid=72585&newstype=local - 40k - 10 hours ago - Cached - Similar pages - Note this
» Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son - Thaindian News(Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. ... RSS feed for comments on Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like son ...www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/rahul-breaks-security-cordon-like-father-like-son_10032072.html - 11 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
andhracafe.com - Rahul breaks security cordon - like father like sonRahul breaks security cordon - like father like son - 'Rahul Gandhi gives cops the slip ... (Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. ...www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=32761 - 10 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Manorama Online HomeRahul plays to the gallery: like father like son - By Maxwell Pereira ... His father Rajiv Gandhi was famous for doing such things, and his grandmother too. ...week.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=3773750&programId=107... - 9 hours ago - Similar pages - Note this
Twists and tails in Rajbir Singh saga: 31 Mar 2008
(Commentary)
By Maxwell Pereira
The delay in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) taking over the investigation into the murder of Delhi Police officer Rajbir Singh is baffling. Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced that he had instructed his Director General of Police Ranjit Dalal to transfer the case to the CBI. This, he said, was on the request of the deceased officer's family.Once the chief minister has expressed this intention, it is not clear how the Gurgaon police have continued to speak to the media on the case or the progress of investigation. And with each piece of selective information being doled out to the press, a new controversy is created.
The latest controversial information given out Sunday is regarding the murder weapon Rajbir Singh is supposed to have given to the accused, Vijay Bharadwaj. From reports so far, however, the weapon did not bear Bharadwaj's fingerprints; presumably it was wiped clean. Why?
What purpose does it serve at this juncture to inform the press that the murder weapon had originally been issued to a Haryana cadre senior police officer? What was the reason for this disclosure? How and why did this weapon get into Rajbir Singh's hands?
We are assuming here that the weapon was indeed given to Bharadwaj by Rajbir Singh. This is based on, and only on, the version said to have been given by the suspect to the Gurgaon police after the killing.
It is clear the Gurgaon police have committed the cardinal mistake right from the start of relying on the so-called confessional statement of Bharadwaj - without verifying it or questioning the glaring discrepancies therein before basing their investigative assumptions and conclusions solely on it.
That this confession is suspect, at least partially not correct, came from the Gurgaon police when it declared that Bharadwaj had planned the murder three days prior to the killing, when he asked Rajbir Singh for the gun on the pretext of having to collect large sums of money from some other creditor.
That the Gurgaon police continue to rely on Bharadwaj's version that the weapon was given to him by Rajbir Singh to be gospel truth even after holes being picked into the confessional statement is more baffling! Is all this because of convenience, or because of possible collusion? Is there an agenda behind this?
Getting into the shoes of an 'encounter specialist', particularly one of the stature of Rajbir Singh, one sees that whatever the nature or level of their friendship, Rajbir Singh and Bharadwaj knew each other for over 20 years. With the by now concluded association between them over land deals, there was some level of trust between the two to warrant the 'encounter specialist' leave behind his personal protection weapon in a box in his vehicle, than keep it on his person while meeting Bharadwaj.
Had he indeed given a weapon to Bharadwaj, by no stretch of imagination in such a situation can one envisage a seasoned hit-man to expose himself unprotected, to go into Bharadwaj's office premises unarmed - however trustworthy the person within the office be!
If one were to analyse the media leaks attributed to the Gurgaon police from that fateful night of March 24, one wonders if there is a pattern. Of each officer falling over the other in reaching the press with a new piece of information, piecemeal at that, and either contradicting the earlier version, or raising eyebrows with new questions galore. Is it just a display of immature handling of the media, or is there a design behind this?
By the way, what was the role of the governments involved - the central government, Haryana and Delhi? One senses the involvement of governmental agencies: There was one report stating that the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had ruled out a terrorist hand. There were reports about Delhi Police conducting parallel interrogations and investigations through two crack teams separately. And now we have the central government's procrastination over the CBI taking over the investigation!
What is most baffling though is the overall role of Delhi Police in the death of one of its greatest contributors, one who repeatedly brought glory to this force and one who won as many as five gallantry awards - perhaps the highest in the country.
Is the reason for Delhi Police playing the fence on account of the controversy that surrounded the officer? Is it because of his tainted name over alleged involvement with land mafia and drug lords? Or is it because of the huge sums of ill-gotten money the officer is supposed to have amassed through shady deals and insinuated threats for extortion? Are they true or just canards?
Whatever... just canards or true, how then haven't Delhi Police failed to nail the matter either way? If it was beyond its own competence to nail the issue, why then have Delhi Police not been the first to clamour for a CBI probe? Is it because of other skeletons that may tumble out of its cupboards?
(Maxwell Pereira is a former joint commissioner of Delhi Police. He can be reached at mfjpkamath@gmail.com)
Indo-Asian News Service
Rajbir Singh Saga : 08 Mar 2008
Police hit-men….
By Maxwell Pereira
With Mumbai's Daya Naik and Delhi's Rajbir Singh in the news not necessarily for the commendable part of their contribution to keeping the community safe, perhaps a deeper look into this 'phenomenon' of hit-men is necessary. That every police department worth its salt needs its hit-men cannot be disputed. Delhi Police more so, given its peculiar circumstance as a much sought after target for bomb-blasting terrorists from across the international border, from the so called aggrieved States and Communities of the country; and from plundering criminals from Delhi's own bordering lands who find the riches of Delhi too much of a temptation to resist. That Delhi's multi-ethnic and impersonal culture provides faceless anonymity and a safe haven to a fugitive to hide in or operate with impunity, is also a factor not to be forgotten. There may be many to lead arguments against this view, but I am talking of reality here. Not everyone can measure up to be a police hit-man. Among other things, it requires guts, and a willingness to be condemned for life to be afraid of one's own shadow. For more often than not these very police hit-men graduate to being prime targets themselves. There is also another side to the coin. The danger of these hit-men turning criminals - killing not in the line of duty, but for pecunary gain. To eliminate rivals or those from the criminal world who pose a threat to them; to circumvent law and intervene as a shortcut to dispute resolution; to intimidate, extort – initially for friends and contacts and especially for such with an approach to superiors in the department or the government; gradually leading to the lure of amassing unaccounted wealth and benefits for self while the sun still shines; to extra-judicial intervention to settle petty scores! When I joined Delhi police at the start of the 70s, the grapevine told us that criminals from neighbouring states preferred to surrender in Delhi (to Delhi Police) for fear of being eliminated by trigger-happy, gallantry award seeking policemen and officers in their own states. It was not uncommon to hear of stories how criminals after capture in these States would be tied to a tree and shot dead, an encounter record prepared, and a citation sent up for Gallantry. Mind you, I said stories! For there was no way anyone could verify this - who indeed were we to question the acts of heroes whose mighty deeds of valour had passed the scrutiny of the mandarins in the Home Ministry! Soon, I believe, the Delhi policeman too learnt to capitalise on these 'so called' surrenders by criminals from neighbouring States. If not to get gallantry medals, at least to earn some kudos from one's superiors, and the reward money that invariably was sought for the claimed 'good work'. And for this there'd always be a display of a cache of recovered weapons and ammunition, at a press briefing indicating what a grand catch it was - with a history of cases in which the miscreant/s were involved. Rarely though, any mention of even a single criminal involvement in Delhi! Not that there wasn't at all a genuine encounter by Delhi police, in them days. I dare say there were police killings in situations when raiding parties were truly attacked and rained upon with bullets, having to return the fire in self-defence! In the decades that followed, and especially with the advent of terrorism, this situation has changed. Being part of Delhi police then, each time there was an encounter killing, my own chest had swelled with pride to vicariously share the spoils of a new found confidence in the 'fire power' of Delhi Police! I firmly believed there was need to send a strong message to the terrorist and the criminal who targeted Delhi, that Delhi Police was not soft, and meant business – even to the extent of eliminating the miscreant. Especially in the face of existing ground realities of our inability – that of the Criminal Justice Administration System – to effectively convict and incarcerate the assassin, the terrorist and the dreaded criminal in a fair trial. Having said that, what I feel queasy about and object to is the attitudinal change over the years, which has replaced the need to capture the criminal alive, or to kill him only when you have to in self-defence. Eliminating the terrorist/criminal as a standard operating procedure has replaced the earlier norm. In this change, what I object to is the tacit approval and acquiescence accorded to this by the police leadership and the government in power who find it abundantly necessary and convenient to blindly support the action of the department's hit-men. I further object to the glaringly perceived entraption of an alleged terrorist on the basis of inputs provided by intelligence agencies, pumping bullets into him without giving him an iota of a chance to surrender, and then getting awarded for it with a gallantry medal. Even more, I object to the enacting of a terrorist plan where there was none, each time a national day or commemorative event approaches, only to build up hype or claim kudos for a terrorist hit, to satisfy the powers that be of one's effectiveness. And more importantly and crucially, I tend to be paranoid now of the inevitable fall-out whereby perfectly fine police officers get transformed and converted into 'dada's – whose unbridled power and license to kill invariably becomes the playground for the unscrupulous mafia to exploit. It is a sad day indeed for the Mumbai and the Delhi Police if what is being alleged against their most famous 'hit-men' is proved true! This I say with qualms of conscience, as down the decades some of us have indeed had a substantial role in grooming and nurturing the career graphs of such officers.
08.03.2006: Copyright © Maxwell Pereira:
By Maxwell Pereira
With Mumbai's Daya Naik and Delhi's Rajbir Singh in the news not necessarily for the commendable part of their contribution to keeping the community safe, perhaps a deeper look into this 'phenomenon' of hit-men is necessary. That every police department worth its salt needs its hit-men cannot be disputed. Delhi Police more so, given its peculiar circumstance as a much sought after target for bomb-blasting terrorists from across the international border, from the so called aggrieved States and Communities of the country; and from plundering criminals from Delhi's own bordering lands who find the riches of Delhi too much of a temptation to resist. That Delhi's multi-ethnic and impersonal culture provides faceless anonymity and a safe haven to a fugitive to hide in or operate with impunity, is also a factor not to be forgotten. There may be many to lead arguments against this view, but I am talking of reality here. Not everyone can measure up to be a police hit-man. Among other things, it requires guts, and a willingness to be condemned for life to be afraid of one's own shadow. For more often than not these very police hit-men graduate to being prime targets themselves. There is also another side to the coin. The danger of these hit-men turning criminals - killing not in the line of duty, but for pecunary gain. To eliminate rivals or those from the criminal world who pose a threat to them; to circumvent law and intervene as a shortcut to dispute resolution; to intimidate, extort – initially for friends and contacts and especially for such with an approach to superiors in the department or the government; gradually leading to the lure of amassing unaccounted wealth and benefits for self while the sun still shines; to extra-judicial intervention to settle petty scores! When I joined Delhi police at the start of the 70s, the grapevine told us that criminals from neighbouring states preferred to surrender in Delhi (to Delhi Police) for fear of being eliminated by trigger-happy, gallantry award seeking policemen and officers in their own states. It was not uncommon to hear of stories how criminals after capture in these States would be tied to a tree and shot dead, an encounter record prepared, and a citation sent up for Gallantry. Mind you, I said stories! For there was no way anyone could verify this - who indeed were we to question the acts of heroes whose mighty deeds of valour had passed the scrutiny of the mandarins in the Home Ministry! Soon, I believe, the Delhi policeman too learnt to capitalise on these 'so called' surrenders by criminals from neighbouring States. If not to get gallantry medals, at least to earn some kudos from one's superiors, and the reward money that invariably was sought for the claimed 'good work'. And for this there'd always be a display of a cache of recovered weapons and ammunition, at a press briefing indicating what a grand catch it was - with a history of cases in which the miscreant/s were involved. Rarely though, any mention of even a single criminal involvement in Delhi! Not that there wasn't at all a genuine encounter by Delhi police, in them days. I dare say there were police killings in situations when raiding parties were truly attacked and rained upon with bullets, having to return the fire in self-defence! In the decades that followed, and especially with the advent of terrorism, this situation has changed. Being part of Delhi police then, each time there was an encounter killing, my own chest had swelled with pride to vicariously share the spoils of a new found confidence in the 'fire power' of Delhi Police! I firmly believed there was need to send a strong message to the terrorist and the criminal who targeted Delhi, that Delhi Police was not soft, and meant business – even to the extent of eliminating the miscreant. Especially in the face of existing ground realities of our inability – that of the Criminal Justice Administration System – to effectively convict and incarcerate the assassin, the terrorist and the dreaded criminal in a fair trial. Having said that, what I feel queasy about and object to is the attitudinal change over the years, which has replaced the need to capture the criminal alive, or to kill him only when you have to in self-defence. Eliminating the terrorist/criminal as a standard operating procedure has replaced the earlier norm. In this change, what I object to is the tacit approval and acquiescence accorded to this by the police leadership and the government in power who find it abundantly necessary and convenient to blindly support the action of the department's hit-men. I further object to the glaringly perceived entraption of an alleged terrorist on the basis of inputs provided by intelligence agencies, pumping bullets into him without giving him an iota of a chance to surrender, and then getting awarded for it with a gallantry medal. Even more, I object to the enacting of a terrorist plan where there was none, each time a national day or commemorative event approaches, only to build up hype or claim kudos for a terrorist hit, to satisfy the powers that be of one's effectiveness. And more importantly and crucially, I tend to be paranoid now of the inevitable fall-out whereby perfectly fine police officers get transformed and converted into 'dada's – whose unbridled power and license to kill invariably becomes the playground for the unscrupulous mafia to exploit. It is a sad day indeed for the Mumbai and the Delhi Police if what is being alleged against their most famous 'hit-men' is proved true! This I say with qualms of conscience, as down the decades some of us have indeed had a substantial role in grooming and nurturing the career graphs of such officers.
08.03.2006: Copyright © Maxwell Pereira:
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