TIME FOR DEFINITIVE ACTION.........

The already precarious or then should I say fragile law and order situation in West Bengal surely seems to have touched it's lowest nadir under the able (????) stewardship of Mamata Didi........


A young woman was allegedly raped by a youth belonging a neighbouring village in the Nakashipara area of Nadia district on Sunday; just a day after a class IV student was brutalised at Kaliganj......

Both the above mentioned incidents led to sporadic incidents of stone throwing at both police as well as other state government vehicles as well as the roughing up of police and other officials by an irate mob that was protesting against the government's pronounced inability to ensure the safety and security of womenfolk belonging to these areas......

Two police constables sustained minor injuries during the course of the stone pelting and also completely vandalised a vehicle attached to the police outpost, the mob was vehemently protesting the police inaction and it's repeated failures to provide a modicum of security to the women inhabiting these specified areas........

The woman who was sexually assaulted is a resident of the Doggachi locality in the area and was on her way back after having a leisurely bath in a neighbouring tank when she was unceremoniously dragged into the bushes by a youth belonging to a neighbouring village and sexually assaulted........

In an effort to silence the woman forever and erase the last shred of evidence against him, the alleged rapist made a furtive attempt to strangulate the woman who however managed to keep her wits about her and wriggle out of a life threatening situation......

The frantic and dishevelled woman somehow managed to make her way back to the area that she belonged to and narrated her tale of woe to her fellow villagers following which the villagers began gathering in large numbers and taking the law into their own hands as they were fed up with the numerous failures of the local police in this regard..........

The alleged rapist still continues to remain at large and is yet to be apprehended by the police that has done precious little to secure the area and provide a safe and secure environment to the women of the area despite the spate of rapes that seem to have hit the area like the plague.........

Time for Mamata Didi to stop blaming the Communists, Maoists and all her other political foes, both real as well as imagined and start duly discharging her duties as the home minister of the state, methinks, what about you???????

YET ANOTHER RAPE STATISTIC.........

Our national capital certainly seems to be doing everything within it's power to live up to it's dubiously acquired status of being "the rape capital of the world"........


In the latest horror, or then should I say horrific incident, a 13 year old deaf mute girl was gang raped by three truck drivers belonging to the adjoining state of Haryana in close proximity to her humble and nondescript dwelling in West Delhi.......

According to police sources probing the horrendous incident, one of the accused lured the deaf mute girl some distance away from her dwelling late on Friday night on the pretext of getting/buying her chocolates and biscuits.......

The man was soon joined by his two other accomplices or comrades in arms and they soon led the girl to a secluded spot where they took turns in repeatedly sexually assaulting or raping her........

To their misfortune and horror a woman belonging to the very same locality who was going to answer the call of nature happened upon the spot and soon raised a din that was heard far and wide.......

Menfolk belonging to the locality managed to apprehend one of the three accused in the case Asif, beat him black and blue and subsequently handed him over to the area police, while the other two offenders managed to make good their escape from the spot.......

Asif confessed to his gruesome crime under sustained and relentless police interrogation and also disclosed the fact that his two other accomplices of friends were truck drivers hailing from the adjoining state of Haryana.......

A detailed medical examination carried out on the hapless girl on Saturday in a government medical facility on Saturday has conclusively established the incidence of rape, the police has constituted four search parties and despatched them to various spots/locations in the neighbouring state, the area DCP has expressed confidence about the police's ability to nab the remaining culprits real soon........

INSATIABLE GREED CONQUERS ALL ELSE...........

Is greed, avarice and the insatiable lust for paper money getting the better of humanistic tendencies and untold love for our offspring???? The answer to this question would certainly be in the affirmative if the following incident is any yardstick or parameter to go by.........


In a shocking, gruesome, heart rending and barbaric incident reported from the sylvan locales of Kashmir an avaricious father first throttled his four year old daughter and subsequently slit her throat, all in attempt to claim the monetary compensation tendered by the state government to the families of victims killed in reported terrorist attacks........

The main accused or offender Altaf Ahmed of Rafiabad has since been arrested and is presently cooling his heels in police custody; Altaf's wife or better half happens to be the sarpanch or head of the village and he was optimistic about the government buying his piteous story and forking over the amount paid to the families of those killed in alleged terrorist attacks in view of the recent spurt in terrorist activity in the area.......

According to police sources, Altaf planned and plotted his moves with clinical precision and quick silver presence of mind, he conveniently send his son and spouse across to the area's government hospital for a check up so that the coast was clear and the opportunity available to put into practice his hideous and nefarious thoughts......

The child Muskaan was found or more precisely her body was retrieved from an orchard in Laiser village of the Dangiwada area of Dangiwada town a day after she was reported missing by her father on June 14........

The police was at sixes and sevens initially, but the subsequent retrieval of a sharp edged knife, a ten rupee note and an empty sack used to store fodder from in the immediate vicinity of the spot where the body was found and the retrieval of a set of partial finger prints from the hilt of the knife swung the needle of suspicion towards Altaf and he reportedly broke down and confessed to his inhumanly crime under sustained and relentless police interrogation.........

Altaf has since been remanded to judicial custody and is awaiting his sentencing........

SAFED DADHI AUR KAALI DADHI...........

The CBI (Central or then should I say Congress Bureau of Investigation) seems hell bent upon heaping ridicule unto itself and reducing itself to a laughing stock in the eyes of the rest of the world, what with it's recent flights of fancy and pitiable efforts to pin down Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and his close aide Amit Shah in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case.........


Yes, in it's latest flight of fancy and laconic attempt at proving it's undying loyalty towards to it's Congress overlords, the CBI higher ups are all set to file a charge sheet before the Gujarat High Court pertaining to the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case wherein Narendra Modi and Amit Shah will in all probability be named as co-conspirators in the case.......

The CBI is basing this rather startling conclusion on the fact that a serving police officer at that time who has since turned approver in the case reportedly heard the main accused in the case D.G. Vanzara exchanging notes with intelligence officer Rajendra Kumar during the course of a telephonic conversation and alluding to the fact that Safed Dadhi (Narendra Modi) and Kaali Dadhi (Amit Shah) had reportedly accorded their approval to the alleged "fake encounter" in which suspected Lashkar operative Ishrat Jahan and three others were gunned down by the Gujarat police......

According to highly placed CBI sources they have come to the conclusion that Kaali Dadhi and Safed Dadhi are code words supposedly alluding to Amit Shah and Narendra Modi as the same have also been repeated during the course of other such conversations between top Gujarat police officials.......

The very same CBI sources have also said that the fact that Vanzara had telephonic conversations twice with Amit Shah hours before the alleged "fake encounter" was staged on the outskirts of Ahmedabad on the fateful day of June 15, 2004 and also had numerous telephonic conversations with the very same Amit Shah the day after the suspected Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives were brought down by a crack team of the Gujarat Anti Terrorist Squad or ATS........

One has certainly heard of people building mountains out of molehills and also read about numerous cases of people building castles in the air, but the CBI seems all set to recreate history by filing a charge sheet on the basis of supposedly concrete evidence that will neither bear legal scrutiny nor be admissible by way of evidence in any credible court of law.........

In it's effort to make life that much more uncomfortable for the Bharatiya Janata Party's poster boy Nrendra Modi and his comrade in arms Amit Shah the CBI seems to have conveniently forgotten or side stepped the fact that such "overheard" conversations are not admissible as evidence in any court of law and even if one were to believe the CBI for a moment, the then top cop Vanzara and Amit Shah would surely exchange notes frequently on any emerging situation as Amit Shah was the minister of state for home affairs at the time and Vanzara's boss to boot.........

Narendra Modi was also doubling as the home minister of the state of Gujarat in addition to being the chief minister and it is but natural that Amit Shah would keep him informed about any and every law and order related issue........

One must also keep abreast of the fact that the very same CBI sources had questioned Vanzara as well as Rajendra Kumar on their alleged role in the Ishrat Jahan "fake" encounter case and failed to either nail them down or prove their complicity in the same.........

A credible and trustworthy bureau of investigation or then simply "His Master's Voice", well each one of you are welcome to draw your own conclusions..........

CHARITY CONGRESS ISHTYLE..........

Bungling and tomfoolery, thy name is surely the Indian National Congress.....


In what must indeed come as a major embarrassment for the heir apparent Rahul Baba and his doting mother the 143 odd trucks carrying medicines, foodstuffs and other essential material for the Uttarakhand Tsunami victims have reportedly run out of fuel and are hopelessly stranded at Dehradun, Rishikesh, Haridwar and other such places........

The Congress bigwigs in their infinite wisdom (?) handed over a paltry sum of Rs. 2,000/- each to each of these truck drivers for refuelling and other allied expenses and the paltry sum of money ran out within the first couple of days according to the men behind the steering of these ill fated trucks......

One may do well to recall the fact that the redoubtable Ms. Sonia Gandhi had flagged off 24 large and 125 odd medium sized trucks with much fanfare from the Congress headquarters in New Delhi in the presence of Rahul Baba and the Delhi Chief Minister Ms. Sheila Dikshit........

As expected the primary opposition party namely the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has grabbed this god sent opportunity with both hands and openly ridiculed the Congress as a party of bunglers who do not even hesitate to perpetrate a cruel and pathetic joke on long suffering victims in the name of aid and succour......

The BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar also dissuaded the Congress from indulging in vote-bank politics and trying to make capital out of disastrous and heart rending situation.........

An official comment is still awaited from the legions of Congress spokespersons especially the Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh as well as the Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari who never need a second chance or invitation to shoot off their mouths....

YET ANOTHER SEXUAL ATROCITY.........

A class nine (IX) student residing in Ranchi (capital city of the state of Jharkhand) has accused a 22 year old young man of abducting and subsequently raping her at gunpoint in his abode earlier this morning.......


The Ranchi police has registered the girl's complaint and registered an FIR against the elusive youth on the basis of the same complaint; police sources have also confirmed the fact that a massive manhunt has been launched in order to apprehend the said young man at the earliest.......

According to the version of events narrated by the victim, she was accosted by this very same youth/young man on her way back from tuitions last evening (Wednesday evening), subsequently took her to his abode and repeatedly raped her at gunpoint before confining her to the same and making good his escape.......

The victim also said that he threatened her with dire consequences before leaving her high and dry and also that she kept her wits about her and made good her escape from the dreaded spot through a window at the first given instance in the wee hours of this morning......

She informed her parents about the events that had overcome her/ tragedy that had befallen her and her father then led her to the nearest available police station so that a complaint could be lodged against the alleged rapist.......

The victim has since been sent to a government medical facility for a detailed medical examination.........

GENUINE CAUSE FOR CONCERN.........

Well, minors have taken a leaf out of their elders book and begun doing it to each other now........


A 10 year old girl succumbed to her injuries in a Navi Mumbai hospital earlier this morning after allegedly having been raped by four minors who were supposedly known to her........

The Navi Mumbai Police showing remarkable alacrity and devotion to duty have thus far arrested 4 boys between the ages of 12 and 14 in connection with the girl's rape and subsequent death........

The girl in question had been admitted to a government hospital in Navi Mumbai earlier this week as she was acutely dehydrated, severely malnourished and running a high fever, the doctors only realised that she had been sexually assaulted when they carried out a detailed medical examination in order to ascertain the reason for her pitiable condition.......

According to a friend of the victim, she had been lured to relatively deserted and secluded locations by three minors and sexually assaulted by them on more than one occasion earlier this month.......

The very same friend in a statement to the police also alleged that another minor had also raped her more than once during the last few days........

The victim's body has been sent for a post mortem and the exact cause for her sad and untimely death is yet to be ascertained........

A one off random incident that can be cursorily dismissed as one of those things, or a genuine cause for concern, well I will let you make up your minds on that one........

"VIBRANT" NIGHT LIFE IN "DEEP FREEZE"...........

The more things seemingly change within our country, the more they remain the same and change if any is more often than two steps forwards and four steps backwards.......


The ruling Congress dispensation trounced the opposition BJP by a resounding margin in the recent assembly elections and one of the promises or then should I say election related commitments made by the present day ruling party within the state of Karnataka pertained to making the already vibrant night life in the city that much more hip hop and happening........

For reasons best known to it, the ruling dispensation suddenly seems to have developed cold feet and gone back on it's avowed declaration about making the night life in the IT city more vibrant and happening, if anything, it has only proved to be more conservative than the previous BJP regime in this regard, leaving many a Bangalorean wondering whether the Congress is ever going to honour the promises made in this regard if at all......

In one of it's first actions after assuming the reigns of power, the Congress government abruptly cancelled the operating licences of all the 44 discotheques operating in the city and is even contemplating the extremely unpalatable measure of neither renewing the operating licences of the discotheques already in existence within the city or issuing any fresh licences whatsoever to budding entrepreneurs who have willingly come forward to establish new discotheques within the city.......

Taking the government's assurances and promises at face value, most if not all restaurants, hotels and resorts within the garden city had put forward requisitions asking for permission to extend the "night hours" in the same to 1 am from the existing 11 pm at present.......

The ruling dispensation of the day showed a strange proclivity to not only not listen to them and turn a deaf ear to their entreaties but also publicly declare that all the joints or establishments with "live bands" (dance bars) shut down by the previous government would remain shut for good........

In support of it's rather conservative and age old stance, the government put out justifications in all the leading English and Kannada dailies of the city stating the fact that these establishments were set down because they were not only found to be in contravention of the existing rules in this regard but also carrying out certain unspecified "illegal" activities within it's precincts leaving the government with no other course of action other than summarily shutting them down.......

The very same declaration or proclamation also went on to state the fact that the government of the day might actively contemplate renewing the operating licences of the of the afore mentioned establishments once they had "streamlined" the existing systems and rules in this regard......

As the debate rages on between the conservatives and the liberal Bangaloreans on the one hand and the hapless restauranters as well as owners of discotheques and the government on the other hand, the hundreds if not thousands of tourists who throng the city throughout the year and young IT professionals who normally unwind after 9 pm are scratching their head in consternation and wondering when if ever they will be able to get their daily "fix" of grooving and jiving in the near or then foreseeable future...........

MODI DOES IT AGAIN.........

Praising oneself within acceptable limits and boundaries is a good thing and appreciable too, but claiming to be Superman without rhyme or reason is surely stretching the limits of credibility a little too far......


I am neither a Modi hater or Modi baiter and have thus far preferred to take his grandiose claims about having turned Gujarat into a haven for it's 6 odd crore citizens and a shining beacon in an otherwise dull, dreary and desolate India with a pinch of salt at the best of times.......

But Modi's grandstanding about having rescued 15 odd thousand Gujaratis from the clutches of a rampaging mother nature is surely stretching the limits of credulity or then should I say incredulity beyond all reasonable limits.......

The army and air force despite all the resources at their command have thus far not been able to evacuate more than 3-4,000 people from precarious perches on any given day so how did Modi achieve this superhuman feat of evacuating 15,000 plus Gujaratis to safer and more salubrious climes within a single day........

Did he spawn wings or then acquire super human abilities, or then did he have a direct link with the almighty through which he managed to abrogate unto himself the untold and immense powers of the almighty for that given period, only Mr. Modi and nobody else can shed further light on these super human achievements.......

One does understand the fact that blowing your own trumpet and hard selling oneself is the only way forward in these days of the social media and intense networking, but was this disgusting and misplaced attempt at one upmanship or then come uppance really required in these trying and testing times when everyone's attention is focussed on rescuing every single living being stuck in treacherous climes and escorting them to seemingly safer havens.......

Putting one's foot in one's mouth every time one opens it is an art that has been mastered by many a present day politician, but what makes Modi special is the fact that he manages to contort his entire body into his mouth every time he opens the same.........

Modi surely seems to have got it wrong this time around, his misplaced and ill advised attempt at styling himself as a present day "Rambo" or then "Man of Steel" has only earned him brickbats instead of plaudits and wide spread derision this time around......

Time to change the "witch doctors" around you Mr. Modi or better still cultivate a far more studious and sobered down image that will endear you to all sections of the Indian society and media as well rather than a certain section that seems to be hanging onto your every word and deed or then should I say misdeed.......

And certain fawning sections of the media who seem to believe that giving credence to your myths and flights of fancy is it's avowed aim as long as they rule the airwaves.......

Come on Mr. Modi, did you really expect all and sundry to blindly accept the fact (?) that you almost single handedly achieved the super human feat of evicting or rescuing 15,000 plus Gujaratis within a 24 hour time span, we were neither born yesterday nor brought up on Rajnikant's films..........

SHAME IN KHAKHI...........

The more we materialistically and economically progress, the more we regress as human beings who supposedly love, care and nurture our fellow beings.......


In the latest instance of sordidness and inhuman behaviour, a constable of the Punjab Police has been dismissed from service on charges of allegedly enticing and sodomising an eight year old boy.........

The above mentioned constable who was posted at a police station in Punjab's Jalandhar district was dismissed from service with immediate effect on Saturday afternoon on charges of repeatedly sodomising an eight year old minor........

Sanjiv Kumar, the infamous constable was taken into custody by his friends and fellows within the very same police force on Friday evening as soon as the hapless family of the victim pressed charges and lodged a case against him........

The victim who is the son of a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh resided in the same locality and had complained to his parents about the nocturnal activities of the said constable on Friday afternoon.........

The family of the victim had moved to Jalandhar from Chandigarh (capital city of Punjab, a little over 150 kms from Jalandhar) and the boy was supposed to begin his sojourn in a local school as soon as the summer vacations came to an end........

Sanjiv Kumar used to lure the unsuspecting boy into his lodgings by dangling the bait of biscuits, chocolates and cold drinks in front of the boy every single time according to his superior officers........

A living testimony of the long held belief in Punjab about the children of a particular locality being the shared property of all the elders or then families within the locality (Bachche Sab De Saanjhe)...........

BESTIALITY IN BHUBANESHWAR.............

One has often heard of doctors chopping or amputating body parts and limbs in an earnest effort to save a patient's life, but a retired army doctor chopping his supposedly beloved wife's body into 300 odd pieces is a new one even as far as jaded and cynical me is concerned........


Yes, the horror continues unabated, in the latest instance a 71 year old retired Army Doctor Somanth Parida was arrested by the Bhubaneshwar (capital city of the state of Odisha) on charges of allegedly murdering his 62 year old wife, chopping her body into miniscule parts and making a futile attempt at surreptitiously disposing of the same......

This horror came to light late on Friday evening when the doctor's brother-in-law was not let into the couple's residence despite his numerous entreaties and requests and subsequently complained to the police about a foul, rank and offensive odour permeating the atmosphere in an around the couple's residence........

The couple was incidentally living all by themselves as their children are comfortably settled across the seven seas and the couple reportedly had a history of marital discord, differences and abuse according to police sources........

Somanth Parida (the main accused) has confessed to murdering his long suffering wife and chopping her body into 300 odd pieces according to police sources; he is currently cooling his heels in a police lock up waiting for the courts to decide his fate......

So much for eternal vows of togetherness that would only be broken by the death and passing on of one of the partners.......

SAGACIOUS AND FAR REACHING JUDGEMENT............

In a landmark ruling that may have far reaching as well as widespread ramifications, the Chennai (Madras) high court has ruled that any couple of legal age indulging in sexual coitus or then sex outside the boundaries of marriage, or then simple sexual gratification, the same scenario could/would be considered equivalent to that of a legally sanctioned marriage and the two partners who had willingly indulged in the sexual act would henceforth be regarded as "man and wife" or then "husband and wife" in the eyes of the law.........


"If any couple chooses to consummate their mutual sexual cravings, then that act becomes a total commitment with adherence to the consequences that may follow as a result of the action, except in the case of certain exceptional circumstances", Justice C.S. Karnan said in his landmark order or judgement..........

He also went on to add that age old formalities like the tying of a mangalsutra, signing a marriage certificate or then performing the wedding related ceremonies in the presence of members of both families and such notable others were nothing more than symbols of social sanction and were totally irrelevant if both partners were totally committed to each other........

Either or both parities could approach a family court for the consummation of their relationship and accord the same a legally wedded or married status by producing documentary proof a mutually sanctioned sexual relationship between both able and willing partners..........

The judge in all his infinite wisdom also said that the concerned couple could establish or formalise itself as a legally married couple in any or all concerned government records the very minute they obtain such a declaration.......

Justice Karnan made all the above mentioned observations and a few more in his very recent order while modifying or surreptitiously fine tuning an earlier judgement passed by a family court in a maintenance case dating back to April 2006.........

ONE MORE RAPE CASE.........

And the shame, ignominy and horror continues unabated.........


A 20 year newly married woman from Meerut was repeatedly raped by a group of four goons or devils in the guise of men for four days beginning Saturday in the national capital's Gokulpuri area..........

To compound her misery, sense of shock, horror and disbelief at the events that unfolded or overtook her, the very same bunch of goons also assaulted the husband of the victim at any and every given opportunity and repeatedly sexually assaulted her in full view of her hapless and defenceless husband.........

This grotesque and horrifying incident only came to light on Wednesday morning when the couple who were originally en route to Punjab in search of livelihood were let off by the bunch of miscreants with a graphic warning of "dire consequences" befalling them if they shared their misery and sense of utter humiliation with any third person or the police.........

The dishevelled, distraught and disoriented couple who were asked to leave Delhi at the earliest somehow mustered up the courage to share their sorry and heart rending plight with the auto driver whose auto they had boarded at the very spot where they were let off by the alleged rapists.........

The auto driver who also doubled up as an Aam Aadmi party activist in turn first called up his associates and friends and then took them to the Gokulpuri police station at around 11 am on Wednesday morning where a case was duly registered after some initial humming and hawing on the part of the police officials deputed at the concerned police station.......

After their initial reluctance, the police however showed remarkable alacrity and swung into action, they managed to nab two of the accused Ravi and Digambar who were gainfully employed as mechanics at a four wheeler workshop not too far away while their other two accomplices in the fait accompli still continue to remain at large.........

The police have admitted the couple, especially the wife to a nearby government hospital and also roped in the services of a non governmental organisation that specialises in helping rape victims overcome their trauma............

ROSY, BRIGHT AND HOPE FILLED FUTURE.........

In this dark, desolate, gloomy and brooding atmosphere; a stray ray of light and hope is indeed a rare occurrence; but people like Rajesh Kumar who put others before self not only are a living embodiment of this ray of hope and light but also put in practice Swami Vivekanand's immortal dictum about serving mankind in an effort to find the almighty...........


As the Delhi Metro rumbles overhead menacingly over the river Yamuna's banks, a rare event takes place under this railway over bridge on a daily basis, children of all hues, shapes and sizes gather here in their numbers all with the hope of being educated and enlightened by a local small time shopkeeper who answers to the name of Rajesh Kumar........

According to Rajesh, "he was deeply perturbed and disturbed by the sight of the children of the slum dwellers whiling away their time in idle pursuits and doing precious little or nothing of note"........

When he asked the parents why they were not sending their children to either government or municipality schools in the adjoining areas, he got the answer that the parents were not even in a position to bear the paltry amount charged by these schools as charges for services rendered by them.......

This forced Rajesh's hand into doing something for the children of the nearby slums and this unique school under a rail over bridge is the end result of his quest to make a meaningful difference in the lives and times of these god forsaken children who were staring at a bleak and bleary future without Rajesh pointing them in the right direction.........

Rajesh started this noble venture of hope and aspirations way back in 2008 with a meagre two students, his class now boasts of a daily attendance in excess of 50 and daily wage labourers, labourers employed in nearby factories, rickshaw drivers and cycle rickshaw pullers have started trusting him and entrusting the onerous responsibility of ensuring a bright future for these kids onto his shoulders.........

He teaches students of all ages unstintingly in Maths, English and Hindi thereby paving the way for the admission of these children into nearby municipal and government schools; as Rajesh says, "I just point the way and these children embark on this momentous journey towards hope and enlightenment as a result".........

The eminent Greek historian Plutarch once succinctly remarked, "the human mind is not a vessel to be filled up but a fire to be kindled and raged", and thanks to their indomitable spirit of doing their bit towards the country and society; Rajesh Kumar and Lakshmi Chandra are kindling this spirit amongst their wards and enabling them to become beacons of hope for other kids like them and future generations.........

MAY THEIR TRIBE INCREASE...........

RAPE MOST FOUL..........

It certainly seems to be getting worse by the day for the womenfolk of this country we ironically call our "motherland".......


In the latest instance of sexual atrocities being committed against the hapless women of this country, a 27 year old tribal woman was brutally raped in a moving bus early Monday morning in Odisha..........

According to police sources, six or seven other passengers were also on the bus when this grotesque crime was being perpetrated against this helpless woman but all of them were sound asleep and saw and heard nothing of the atrocity that was committed on the very same bus.........

The woman was unceremoniously dumped at the Cuttack bus stand without as much as a by your leave after the horrendous incident; the local police have so far apprehended the drivers' helper and is trying to establish whether or not he was the alleged rapist.........

A detailed medical examination carried out on the victim at a nearby government hospital has conclusively established the incidence of a sexual crime or then atrocity against her.......

SONIA GANDHI LOYALIST..........

Sycophancy and Gandhi worship, thy name is indeed the Indian National Congress, here comes another unconditional sycophant who is willing to do anything to uphold and foster the Gandhian hegemony and supremacy......


In what must sound like a rhythm divine to Ms. Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Baba's ears, newly appointed Chhattisgarh state unit Congress chief Charan Das Mahant has made the ludicrous claim that he is more than ready to sweep the floor of his party office and lie down before Ms. Sonia Gandhi in supplication if ordered to do so by her........

According to him, "this would only be token of my loyalty and gratitude to the Gandhis for realising the inherent potential in a virtual non entity like me and elevating me to the exalted position of the state union president and this is the least I can do to prove my undying loyalty and utmost devotion towards them"........

Charan Das Mahant was anointed as the state unit chief in the recent reshuffle of portfolios and positions within the party set up announced on Saturday by the Indian National Congress' official spokesperson or then spokespersons........

A heady return to the "Indira is India and India is Indira days", certainly seems to be on the cards........

DEAREST PAPA........

Dearest Papa- Father's day never ever meant a great deal to us as we always wondered how you could love the person closest to your heart and soul just that bit more on one specified day of the year.......


Now that you're no longer physically present in our midst, one tends to miss you more in every waking moment and you even abound my dreams, one misses those numerous arguments that one had with you on most Sundays on issue related to politics or then any other issue worth arguing about.......

The sage advice that you always used to give me about loving myself just that bit more still resonates or then rings loud and clear within my ears, one also fondly misses those admonishments about saving or setting aside something for tomorrow and not spending every penny that I have on a few people undeserving of the honour.......

You would be glad to know that we have fulfilled your life's dream at long last, Mama and Teena have purchased a two and a half bedroom flat (two bedrooms and a study) at long last; and will be moving into the same real soon........

How I wish that the good lord develops some means of communicating with dear departed souls as and one one pleases, I yearn to call you up, send you an e-mail, or then simply reach out and communicate with you through any means possible......

One always take solace in the fact that you are in the company of angles and other such notables now, the angels above must surely be rejoicing in your august company and laughing their heads of at your witty repartee or then going into raptures or then paroxysms of delight whenever you choose to break into a K.L. Saigal number........

Wishing you lots Papa and ardently praying that you come back and rejoin us as soon as possible.........

ATROCITY IN GURGAON...........

Catch them young is an age old dictum that is as old as mankind itself, but catch them young and then gang rape them is a dictum that has been followed off late by despicable, desperate, debauched and deplorable Indian men who deliberately seem to know no better........


A hapless, defenceless and clueless five (5) year old girl was brutally gang raped by three alleged monsters in the vicinity of a metro station in Gurgaon on Saturday night..........

The battered and copiously bleeding child was subsequently found abandoned on a vacant site/plot within touching distance of the Sikanderpur metro station in Gurgaon.......

Doctors attending to the child in a corporate hospital have rated her chances of surviving the inhuman ordeal as "slim" at best and also added that they are going to start performing a series of life saving surgeries on the child as soon as her condition stabilises somewhat.........

The Gurgaon police in the meanwhile have launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the three unidentified rapists who still remain at large........

Such misdeeds only make one hang one's head in shame and wonder whether being born as a female in India is the greatest or most momentous crime of them all???????

WOMEN IN KHAKHI........

The national capital may have acquired the dubious distinction of being the rape capital of the world, but the powers that be both in the home ministry as well as the Delhi police sure seem to be turning a blind eye towards the acute shortage of women constables and officers within the Delhi police........


Official figures put out recently by the above mentioned police force sources peg the present shortage of both women beat constables as well as other ranks to be in the vicinity of 2,500 or so and what is even more appalling is the fact that the powers that be are doing precious little to address the present situation........

Long hours of work, quirky superiors and unsympathetic male colleagues, inadequate compensation for long hours of work rendered selflessly and a topsy turvy and less than ideal living conditions are the primary or main factors that inhibit or forbid other women from joining this male dominated force........

Maya a lady police officer who has been in khakhi for more than the last decade and a half makes a few telling points: " I leave my house at precisely 8 a.m. every morning but do not have the faintest inclination about when my day will end, my day stretches up to 12 hours a day at a minimum and can go up to 18 or 20 hours depending on emergent situations".........

"And even after all the sacrifices and selfless service rendered we get paid a pittance, weekly offs and leaves are a rarity and come about depending on the whims and fancies of our superior officers, I live in a two room accommodation in the largely lower middle class locality of Azadpur and my three daughters who are rapidly growing up as well as husband look upon me as a stranger and necessary hazard that they have to put up with at the best of times"........

On being asked whether she would encourage and motivate her daughters into joining the very same police force, Maya's candid answer is "certainly not as long as the same service conditions persist as the sexist remarks and expletive laden asides that I am subjected to by male colleagues most of the time have become second nature to me, but i would certainly not want to subject my daughters to the same mental pressure and agony as they certainly don't deserve to be exposed to the same".........

Their male counterparts are full of praise for their dedication and commitment to service as long as the recorders and cameras are switched on, but their true form emerges as soon as the same are turned off and conversations between them refer to their female colleagues as a necessary evil to be put up with and a drain on the already scarce resources of the Delhi police.........

As Maya and her other female colleagues put it "our male colleagues will never understand what we go through on a daily basis unless they begin living our lives and subjecting themselves to the struggle that we undergo on a daily basis as balancing roles between the police station and two room barsaati's that most of us call home is tenuous at best"..........

One does remember both the Delhi police commissioner as well as his deputy making lofty claims about initiating gender sensitisation classes on an emergency basis and also promising clear results on the same in a matter of weeks if not months, one wonders what happened to those claims, were they just statements made to please Delhiites in the wake of the horrific events that unfolded in the national capital of that cold wintry night of December 16.........

Or then was there any intention of honouring these statements and self imposed deadlines at all, all said and done, the Delhi police's image has surely taken a beating and reached rock bottom and things can only get better from here on and show a drastic improvement if the Delhi Police intends to live up to it's motto of being by the side of Delhiites and remaining steadfast by them in their moment of need

STEREOTYPICAL MANIFESTATION..........

In yet another stereotypical manifestation of traditional Indian male mindsets and male hegemony above all else, the Madhya Pradesh state police officials steadfastly refused to register an attempt to murder and sexual assault case against a dozen and more goons who allegedly assaulted a woman, beat her up with iron rods and left her knee caps damaged to the extent that the woman may be disabled for life and all this because she resisted their sexual overtures........


The 27 year old victim a mother of one is currently recovering from her horrendous and heart rending ordeal and trauma in an orthopaedic ward of a Bhopal hospital, she was sexually assaulted minutes after returning from the Taliya police station where she had incidentally gone to file a complaint of sexual assault and criminal intimidation by the very same group of men.......

Police officials manning the above mentioned police station however refused to entertain her complaint in their infinite wisdom and return with a duly typed one, the men who were lying in wait for this hapless woman yards away from the said police station pounced on her like a pack of wolves and beat her up within an inch of her life.......

This dastardly incident took place on June 5, 2013 and the doctors treating the victim at the Bhopal hospital are of the informed opinion that the victim may be disabled for life despite their best efforts as a result of the severe trauma inflicted on her knee caps which were more or less smashed to smithereens.......

Narrating the nightmare from her hospital bed, the hapless victim says, "when I went to complain against these men, the policemen within the station cursorily made a note of my complaint and asked me to return with a duly typed copy of the very same; I was beaten up mercilessly by these men yards outside the police station as I was trying to pay heed to the authorities demand for a duly typed complaint"...........

The Madhya Pradesh police officials have so far been successful (if one can call it that) in nabbing three of the dozen or so accused, but are still to lay their hands on the main or primary accused Nafees Qureshi who brutally assaulted the helpless victim with iron rods and broke both her knee caps........

And all this because he wanted to settle a long standing property dispute with the victim outside the jurisdiction of the courts.........

State governments claim to spend thousands of crores of rupees on the safety and security of womenfolk, but of what use is this expenditure if women are treated like chattel by the very same people who are being paid to ensure their safety and security.......

Will the Madhya Pradesh government wake up at long last from it's deep slumber and immediately sack all those officials who were indirectly responsible for the sorry plight of this 27 year old woman or then will they keep shedding crocodile tears and mouthing hollow sounding and false ringing plaudits every time such a horrific incident takes place, well your guess on this one is as good as mine.......

It is high time that we took matters into our own hands and sent out the stern message stop these atrocities against the Indian woman now........

ANOTHER YOUNG LIFE LOST NEEDLESSLY........

Raising your voice, hand or then any other part of your body in protest can cost you dear and even end up costing you your life often times......


A young man was brutally beaten or then clubbed to death by his supposed best friend and a few others when he vociferously protested against an attempt to molest and rape his sister-in-law in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur district........

According to police sources, Krishna a young man and a resident of Birsanagar in Jamshedpur district ( around 130 kms from the state capital of Ranchi) was returning home at around 10:30 pm on Tuesday night along with his sister-in-law when they were joined by his best friend Bhaskar and three other youths who proceeded to accompany them.......

After having covered some distance Bhaskar and the three other young men along with him started misbehaving with Krishna's sister-in-law and even made a furtive attempt to molest and disrobe her, all with the ignoble intention of outraging her modesty.......

Krishna who raised his voice in vociferous protest against their misguided attempts was beaten up brutally when he started pushing away the other four young men away in an attempt to protect his sister-in-law's honour and chastity.......

The four youth including Bhaskar proceeded to brutally beat up Krishna and only left the spot leaving a profusely bleeding Krishna behind when his distraught and helpless sister-in-law loudly started raising cries for help.......

A now profusely bleeding and semi-conscious Krishna was rushed to a nearby hospital with the help of passers by where he succumbed to his grievous injuries later that night/early the next morning.........

The Jamshedpur police have arrested one youth thus far and launched a massive manhunt for the remaining three murderers who are still at large.........

So much for an ancient culture and society that supposedly venerates, respects and worships its womenfolk and a stringent anti rape law (popularly called the Nirbhaya law) that was supposed to put the fear of god into the the heart and soul of every wannabe rapist and molester..........

Wither Indian society, culture, rule of law and respect for women in general.........

DOMESTIC HELPS AND THEIR SHENANIGANS.........

The fine art of crying wolf on every pretext be it true or false certainly seems to have touched it's nadir on this one, as a Delhi court acquitted a 82 year old male resident of the city from the frivolous and malicious charges of attempt to rape and outrage a women's modesty.........


Mincing no words and soundly chastising employment agencies that hire maids and domestic helps, the court asked them to examine the integrity and character of the personnel being provided by such placement agencies rather than recommending or sending across such people who file frivolous complaints against honourable people for no rhyme or reason..........

The very same court also asked the state government to immediately frame guidelines that would curb and put an end to this nocturnal tendency of foisting false charges on honourable people or persons and casting unnecessary aspersions on both their character as well as person.........

While honourably acquitting the national capitals' resident Krishan Lal Sharma of all charges foisted on him by his domestic help, Additional Sessions Judge Nivedita Anil Sharma acerbically observed that " this case was nothing more than a furtive attempt by an unscrupulous person vetted by an irresponsible and immature placement agency to extort money over and above the mutually agreed to salary payable to the domestic help"............

While asking the concerned agencies and government to frame guidelines to immediately curb and arrest this growing menace, the judge observed that this court "has just been apprised of the alarming and disturbing fact that there are neither any laws or guidelines in place to regulate the working as well as minutely scrutinise the business dealings of all such placement agencies that claim to specialise in providing trustworthy domestic helps with the required and much desires police protection"........

The said judge also instructed the higher ups in the Delhi police force to start taking a closer look at the workings and dealings of such placement agencies and verify or certify the antecedents and character of each and every domestic help provided by these agencies to numerous households within the National Capital Region........

"Unsuspecting people or citizens hire these domestic helps to ease out their daily routines and lead a somewhat easier existence and not to be troubled, harangued and bothered by both unscrupulous agencies and personnel belonging to such supposedly certified and registered agencies".........

"It is indeed high time that both the government of the day as well as other such related agencies took due notice of this growing menace and initiated all such necessary as well as required measures to regulate the workings of all such agencies existing within the National Capital Region as early and as expeditiously as possible", the judge said in her closing remarks..........

CROSS COUNTRY SEXUAL ASSAULT.............

And the horror as well as the epidemic of sexual crimes against women continues unabated.......


In the latest horror or horrific incident, a 20 year old young woman hailing from Mohgarh village in Punjab's Moga district was allegedly abducted by an unidentified youth from the Dharamkot bus stand and repeatedly raped by the very same youth at numerous places including the sylvan, tranquil and picturesque climes of Simla........

According to police sources, the victim was allegedly accused from the Dharamkot bus stand by the main accused Kapil Dev while she was waiting to board a bus at the same bust stand..........

The alleged rapist happened upon the spot in a vehicle and informed the victim that he was from the same village and had come to escort her home as her father had taken seriously ill and been rushed to a nearby hospital........

On her the news pertaining to her beloved father, the victim fell into a swoon and was then fed sedative laced water by the accused after she was revived somewhat with the aid of fellow passengers or commuters at the said bus stand......

The somewhat incoherent and semi-conscious victim was then escorted into the accused's vehicle and taken to Simla where the sordid and sorry saga of her sexual exploitation began......

Her ordeal continued unabated at Jagraon near Ludhiana where she was brought and raped again and again and her signatures were also obtained under duress on a set of blank papers according to the very same police sources...........

Her sorry and horrendous ordeal finally came to an end on Monday evening when the prime accused Kapil Dev dropped her on the outskirts of Lohgarh Village and made good her escape from the spot.........

The victim gathered her senses and wits about her and duly informed her family members about the sequence of events that had befallen her following her abduction from the above mentioned bus stand following which the family members proceeded to file a complaint against the accused at the Dharamkot police station.........

The area police immediately swung into action and booked a case of abduction and sexual assault against the main accused Kapil Dev, cases were also filed against his parents (father and mother) and one more relative for the roles discharged or played by them in aiding and abetting the primary accused........

A detailed medical examination is being carried out on the victim at a district government hospital to conclusively establish the incidence of sexual assault on the victim even as this article is being written and the police have also launched a massive manhunt to apprehend Kapil Dev as well as his partners in the sordid saga at the earliest...........

"BALAKNAMA"........

Introducing a new Delhi based newspaper entitled "Balaknama" that tell the stories, anecdotes and dissects the lives and times of both street children as well as those children working in households, eateries, factories, construction sites or such notable others (child labourers).........


Jyoti is one such child who lives under a bridge strategically constructed near a bustling bus stop, she is a rag picker by day and a roving or then should I say intrepid reporter by night, her life has taken a turn for the better ever since her photograph was splashed prominently across the front pages of the very same newspaper and she feels like a Barkha Dutt now in her very own words........

All the contents of the paper are decided by this dedicated and committed bunch of street children, they decide upon the editorial, other contents as well as featured articles by trial, error and consensus; and the articles focus exclusively on issues of mutual interest such as child marriages, eradication of child labour, exploitation of hapless children by unscrupulous elements and so on and so forth.........

The paper set itself off the ground with 12 odd children comprising it's editorial team and 35 odd children subscribing to the same a little over a decade ago, it today boasts of an editorial team of close to 70 odd members and boasts of a readership of more than 10,000 dedicated and committed readers..........

Being unable to read and write does not constitute or prove to be a stumbling block in this case as the senior and lettered children interview such unlettered children and pen down their stories and experiences with utmost care and due diligence........

As one of the adventurous souls who comprise the editorial team goes on to say "we record and serialise our fellow beings experiences for posterity and then narrate and dissect the same in an easy to understand and reader friendly manner guaranteed to hold the interest of the readers and such notable others".........

The nominal sum of Rs. 5 per month that is collected from each reader of "Balaknama" is optimally utilised towards improving the standards of the publication as well as educating and lettering unlettered children in an expeditious and time friendly manner.......

Surely, there's a lesson in it all somewhere for us so called superior folks who go tch tch at the sight of such children, cast a few coins in their direction if we feel like it and then conveniently move on with the smugness that has become a second nature to us whenever we feel that we have done our bit for their supposed betterment......

A BLIND, DEAF AND DUMB SOCIETY...........

One did certainly hear about our society being deaf and dumb, but it seems to be turning blind as well slowly but surely what with drug addicts or then should I say alleged drug addicts raping and murdering blind teenagers and so on and so forth.....


Yes, it is sad but true, a 35 year old alleged drug addict with a mile long crime record Banamali Barik was apprehended or arrested by the Puri Police Authorities (60 kms away from the Odishan capital of Bhubaneshwar) on Saturday on charges of abducting, raping and brutally murdering a 15 year old visually impaired teenager.......

According, to the very same police sources, Banamali was well acquainted with the girl as well as the rest of her family members and therefore could pull of this heinous crime with utmost ease and without raising a sweat.......

The alleged perpetrator has already confessed to the grotesque crime of abducting, raping and murdering the 15 year old visually impaired girl who was a student of a blind school in the state capital of Bhubaneshwar and had proceeded to her village in Puri for her annual summer vacations.......

According to her distraught and inconsolable family members, the victim went missing all of a sudden on Thursday night from outside the house where she was blissfully sleeping along with the rest of her family......

A family member who got up to answer nature's call during the course of the night raised a hue and cry upon finding her missing from he allotted spot and the family members immediately swung into action and started a search for the missing teenaged girl......

To their dismay, they soon found her bloodied, bruised and battered body at a secluded and lonely spot not too far away from the familial abode and also recovered an empty country liquor bottle from the very same spot........

The perpetrator first led the visually impaired girl to a construction site and attempted to force himself upon her, on finding the victim resisting his forced sexual overtures and beginning to raise a hue and cry he soon made off with her to an adjoining forest area where he not only proceeded to brutally sexually assault her but also compounded her misery by inserting an iron rod into her private parts thereby causing massive internal bleeding that ultimately led to the hapless victim's death.......

Cases have since been booked under relevant and applicable sections of the Indian Penal Code against the alleged perpetrator who is currently cooling both his heels as well as libido in judicial custody, the public prosecutor has come out openly against him and disclosed that he will indeed be demanding the death penalty in this case as the same falls in the 'rarest of rare category' according to him......

So much for our ancient civilization and a historic society that supposedly reveres it's females and treats them with due honour and courtesy..........

MURDER MOST FOUL..........

In yet another case of growing intolerance and growing apathy towards one's friends and well wishers a 24 year old man was stabbed to death by four of his friends and accomplices in the national capital for having committed the heinous crime of getting married to the supposed girlfriend or lover of one of his friends.......


The Delhi police have so far been successful in nabbing three of the accused: Karim 24, was arrested from Bihar's Madhubani District while Bahadur 27, and Pappu 20 were arrested or apprehended from within Delhi itself on charges of having murdered Raja alias Arif in South Delhi's Nizamuddin area.......

The murder was carried out in brutal cold blooded and well thought out manner by the four accused as Raja had according to them, committed the grievous sin of falling in love with and marrying the paramour of the main accused Allahrakha who is still at large........

According to Delhi police sources Allahrakha was incarcerated in a Delhi jail and serving jail time for having committed a petty offence at the time of Raja's wedding with his alleged paramour.......

Allahrakha was seething with rage and thirsting to avenge himself ever since he stepped out of the jail's precincts, he took the other three into confidence and hatched a plan to eliminate Raja in collusion with them, the very same police sources said.......

According to the plan, the five supposed friends committed the crime of robbing a South Delhi residence and subsequently made their way to a secluded spot on the pretext of sharing the spoils or then dividing the booty amongst themselves.........

The colluding four then put their long hatched plan into action and brutally and grievously stabbed Raja more than thirty times thereby reducing him to nothing more than a pool of blood copiously bleeding from his numerous wounds.......

Raja died on the spot and the colluding four then made good their escape from the spot and enjoyed the rare sense of freedom for three days before being apprehended/arrested by the Delhi police sleuths (the murder was committed on the night of June 4,2013)......

The Delhi police in the meanwhile has launched a massive manhunt in order to apprehend the main accused Allahrakha and is confident of nabbing him soon......

So much for friendship, trust and standing by your friends no matter what........

WHEN WILL THIS MADNESS END?????

Will the average Indian males' sense of debauchery and depravity ever show signs of improvement???, the average Indian male continues to sexually abuse and molest both women as well as female children and then squarely lay the blame for the heinous crime committed by him at the doorstep of the victim who supposedly lured him into committing the crime through her come hither gestures or supposedly provocative dressing, honestly how inane and banal will it all keep getting........


In the latest instance of sexual depravity and debauchery committed against the hapless women of our motherland two Delhi based males not only brutally sexually assaulted a 15 year old girl in the bordering district of Ghaziabad but also proceeded to record her shame and humiliation on their mobile handsets for posterity.......

The girl in question who is a resident of the national capital's Pandav Nagar area was offered a joy ride on a motorcycle by her neighbour Fakira on the evening of May 31........

Trusting him implicitly as well as her own instincts about him, the 15 year old gullible girl soon found Fakira taking her to a house In Ghaziabad where his nephew and accomplice in this gruesome crime was already present........

The two of them offered the girl a sedative laced or laden cold drink which knocked her out for a good four to five hours and then proceeded to rape the victim more than once each while continually filming the nefarious deed on their mobile handsets for posterity and also to threaten the victim with........

They then proceeded to drop the dazed and somewhat incoherent victim off in the vicinity of her Pandav Nagar dwelling, but not before threatening her with dire consequences if she even let a whiff of what happened to her to anybody: family, friends, neighbours or then the police........

To succeed in their nefarious objectives, they even threatened the victim with instant disclosure by uploading the clips of the victim's shame and humiliation on facebook and other social networking sites of it's ilk.........

The girl in question somehow summoned up the courage to narrate her tale of woe and shame to her family members on the morning of Thursday, June 6, 2013, following which her family members filed a complaint against the accused fakira and his nephew at the area police station........

A complaint has been filed against the accused and cases been booked against them under the relevant and applicable sections of the Indian penal code based upon the version of events rendered/narrated by the victim and her family members, the area police have launched a manhunt to nab the culprits who still continue to remain at large..........

RARE FEAT INDEED............

In a first of it's kind six boys aged between the ages of 16 and 17 from the elite Lawrence School in Sanawar and their mentors have achieved the notable distinction of becoming the first school team to scale the majestic Mount Everest thereby adding another feather into our motherland's brimming cap.......


The composite team managed to set foot on the highest peak on earth after braving an arduous hectic, heart rending, sometimes anti-climatic yet heady and exhilirating 56 day ordeal; as one of the elated team members says "every minute spent in excruciating pain and increasing periods of self doubt was worth it as we doggedly fought through it all and ultimately accomplished what we set out to do".........

In their own words, "the ascent to the summit was anything but easy, we had to undergo a rigorous, tiring and gruelling year long mountaineering course at more than one institute, we did try our utmost to scale the Khardung La Pass in Ladakh during the month of January but had to give up our pursuit of the same as the inclement weather proved to be too much of an insurmountable obstacle even for us doughty souls"........

This gang of brave boys gives the credit of their achievement to the thousands of prayers selflessly sent up by their parents and numerous well wishers who spent many a sleepless night while worrying about their safety and well being........

"Never give in-in letter and spirit", 'is our beloved school's credo, and we are indeed proud of the fact that we succeeded in living up to our alma mater's credo and did our bit towards embellish it's already sterling reputation they echo'...........

Their indomitable spirit and their never say die attitude does force one's hand into reiterating the cliche that there ain't no mountain high enough or valley low enough that will not yield before their dedication to their avowed cause of etching India's name on all the highest peaks of the world.........

Here's wishing them regular, continuous and renewed success in every future endeavour they undertake..........

MASTER AJIT SINGH..........

Amongst all the despair, gloom, sense of despondency, mistrust, antagonism and increasing intolerance, comes this heart warming story of man who has made the eradication of the menace of drug addiction from the midst of a once flourishing and prosperous land his life's avowed aim........


Punjab has always been lauded as the land of the plenty, it is the land that the green revolution first made it's appearance in but very few of us are aware of the fact that this very land of plenty and abundance is also the drug capital of the nation and harbours within it a village that is home to more than 70% of such hapless and defenceless women who have lost their menfolk to the scourge of drug addiction......

Master Ajit Singh is the only ray or beacon of hope amongst the sense of despondency and gloom that engulf this village of widows barely eight kilometres away from the eponymous Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar district; Master Ajit Singh is a government servant who started this school in the infamous village of Makboolpura way back in 1990 and dedicated his life and soul to the noble cause of educating the children and offspring of these drug widows and other residents of the village........

The school still runs out of one room within his humble abode and provides succour and comfort to scores of children and families who otherwise might not have been able to afford a family education, "the Guru's have been kind Master Ajit Singh says, I pool in 80% to 90% of my earnings into the running and upkeep of this school and the rest is taken care of a few noble souls who are as committed to this noble cause as I am"........

Yes, there have been prolonged periods of self doubt, anguish and bitter opposition; but these and many more impediments have if anything only served to strengthen the resolve of this indomitable soul, "deep down I know that I ma their only hope he says, and they have nowhere to go if I lose heart and pack up my bags", he candidly admits.........

This village has come to acquire the dubious distinction of being called a village of drug widows as more than 70% of the women of the village have lost their male kith and kin to the ever prevalent and constantly increasing menace of drug addiction, "I have lost seven menfolk in my family to this dreaded disease a female resident of the village confides and would have ended up taking my own life in a fit of pique and utter helplessness."..........

"Master Ajit Singh has given us a renewed hope and sense of purpose, he has not only taught us how to live with out heads held high but more importantly taught us how to turn our back on the free drugs and intoxicants offered by those who want us to succumb to the wiles of these vices and fatten their pockets in the bargain," many a young resident of this once dark and desolate village echoes.........

"I will not rest until I succeed in my efforts to turn this so called village of drug widows into a village of scholars", Master Ajit Singh goes on to declare and "if the Waheguru wills so, I will see this day dawn dawn before I close my eyes forever", he lets out while taking a well deserved rest from his onerous labours and responsibilities.........

MAY HIS TRIBE INCREASE..........

SHAME IN TRANQUIL MANALI.......

As if the sexual crimes perpetrated against our own countrywomen and female children were not enough, some of us have taken upon us the onerous responsibility of sexually assaulting women of foreign origin and giving renewed credence to the widely held belief about India emerging as the rape capital of the world.......


In the latest in a series or spate of assaults against women belonging to foreign climes a 29 year old married American woman was brutally gang raped by three men who knew no better inside a moving truck in the sylvan locales of Manali, Himachal Pradesh........

The woman not only suffered the indignity or ignominy of being gang-raped but was also relieved of her personal belongings that included her purse containing quite a few dollars and a wad of Indian currency, cell or mobile phone and travel documents......

The lady in question who hails from California in the United States of America is happily married and was travelling through India in an effort to acquaint herself with the land of her dreams; she was travelling all on her own despite the numerous warnings issued by the American Embassy about travelling in pairs and had reached Manali on the morning of that fateful day (Monday morning).........

The lady then proceeded to Vashisth village that abounds Manali as the same is well renowned for its numerous hot water springs in order to spend some quality time with her friends who happened to be there at the same time, she ended up spending close to four hours in their company and then left for her hotel in Manali at around 1;15 am early Tuesday morning.......

She happened upon a truck passing by, stopped the same and enquired whether the gentlemen within the same would be kind enough to drop her at her hotel and boarded the said truck on being assured that dropping her would indeed be both an honour as well as privilege.......

To her dismay, she soon realised that the three gentlemen (?) within the confines of the truck had anything but honourable intentions and the driver of the truck turned the same in the direction of the Manali- Rohtang pass road where the three assailants took repeated turns in raping her between Bahang and Palgam villages while keeping the truck moving.......

According to her complaint made to the Manali police officials, her gruesome ordeal continued until almost 3:30 am when the three assailants took pity on her and dumped her in the vicinity of the Manali bus stand before making good their escape from the spot in the very same truck.........

A detailed medical examination carried out on the victim has conclusively established the incidence of sexual assault or then the commission of rape, Manali police officials have arrested three men in connection with this horrendous crime and efforts are being made to ascertain whether or not these three men are indeed the assailants who perpetrated this horrific crime on this hapless tourist who took them at face value and trusted them to her horror and dismay.......

One wonders what has happened to the age old and time honoured concept of "Athithi Devo Bhava" or my guest is my lord or then ruling deity for as long as he/she is around, have we given up this age old concept at the altar of expediency or then selectively take recourse to the same as and when it suits our pecuniary aims and objectives.........

CAUSE FOR CONCERN.........

A 16 year old gullible and unsuspecting young girl/damsel was allegedly abducted (kidnapped) and subsequently sexually assaulted (raped) by her 24 year old auto driver friend in the city's (Hyderabad) BDL Bhanoor police station limits......


According to police sources, the accused P. Nagesh, 24 had befriended this young girl who was gainfully employed in a private factory at Pashamaliaram and had gained her confidence during the course of the daily auto ride the two of them undertook as the said auto driver used to drop off this girl to her place of work on a daily basis.......

Things came to a head on the fateful day of May 25, 2013 when this unsuspecting young girl supposedly eloped with the said auto driver on the pretext of marrying him; the auto driver then proceeded to take this young girl to Parigi, Shankarapally where they decided to mutually cohabit in a friend's house in BDL Bhanoor until the wedding rituals were solemnised to their mutual satisfaction........

The said auto driver however had some other nefarious designs on his mind and proceeded to sexually assault the 16 year old girl in the same house more than once before dropping her off at a location in close proximity to her residence in Isnapur.......

Deeply dismayed and anguished by this unexpected and heinous turn of events, the traumatised girl confided in her parents and proceeded to narrate her tale of woe and pain following which the parents registered a police compliant against the alleged rapist at the nearest police station......

The police authorities took due cognisance of the complain and arrested the alleged abductor and rapist from his abode in Isnapur on Monday morning, cases of misleading and forcefully abducting a minor and sexually exploiting her have been booked against the alleged assailant who is cooling both his ardour as well as heels in judicial custody.........

A detailed medical examination carried out on the victim has confirmed beyond all reasonable doubt the occurrence and incidence of forced sexual intercourse........

BOON FOR RTI ACTIVISTS............

At long last the long held and cherished dream of many an avowed right to information act (RTI) activist has come true for the time being at least.......


In a landmark judgement that is bound to have far reaching consequences and bring a smile to the visage of many a RTI activist, the Central Information Commissioner (CIC) has ruled that political parties are public authorities who are bound to to respond to all RTI related queries within a specified six week period as envisaged by the same act.....

This welcome as well as long overdue ruling effectively lifts the veil or shroud of secrecy that engulfed the holier than thou political parties until now and the same will have little or no choice apart from sharing all pertinent information about their sources of funding and expenditure incurred under various heads........

Political parties and their affiliated state or regional units were forced to bite the dust on Monday as the CIC put paid to their hopes and aspirations of remaining outside the purview of this increasingly contentious act by saying that six national parties namely the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party, Nationalist Congress Party, Communist party of India (Marxist), Communist party of India as well as the Bahujan Samaj Party have been substantially if not completely funded through the back door or indirectly by the central and hence cannot remain impervious to the jurisdiction of the RTI act........

The CIC's opinion on this issue was made clear in a 54 page long order that even said that all the above mentioned six national parties will also have to share and provide details about both their major as well as minor donors if asked to do so........

The CIC ruled that political parties have the "character of public authority" under the RTI act as they perform and discharge public functions; this landmark judgement or ruling came in the wake of a petition filed by those activists who failed to receive a satisfactory as well as timely reply from the concerned political parties about the identities and other relevant details about their top 10 donors.........

RTI activists would be best served by filing petitions and garnering all the information they seek from these political parties about their sources of funding and such other information they require as sources close to all the afore mentioned political parties have clearly mentioned the fact that these parties intend approaching both the Delhi high court as well as apex court in order to have this ruling made by the CIC set aside at the earliest as they are of the informed opinion that this ruling impinges on their freedom and seriously jeopardises their sources of funding........

So make the best of the sunshine while it lasts as dark clouds will soon engulf the horizon the very minute the courts decide to set aside this landmark judgement or ruling by the CIC at the behest of the aggrieved political parties.........

VINA MAZUMDAR........

The long standing fight for women's due rights and their due place in society suffered a body blow as veteran women's right activist Vina Mazumdar passed away in the national capital of a lung related disorder three days back at the ripe old age of 87.......


Vina is survived by four children- three daughters and a son.......

An avowed and unequivocal advocate of increased women's representation in parliament, Vina had the rare honour and privilege of being the first Secretary of the committee on the status of women in India that brought out an epochal and path breaking report way back in 1974.......

Infact, so far reaching and all encompassing were the contents of that path breaking report that many a present day woman's right activist still continues to swear by the same and even term or call it the bedrock or foundation on which the edifice of the women's right movement in the country is based.......

She was also the founding Director of the Centre for Women's Development Studies (CWDS) an autonomous organisation of the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICCSR) where she continued to hold the post of National Research Professor till her very last breath.......

Her pioneering spirit and undying devotion to the cause of women's emancipation will sorely be missed, Vina Mazumdar the living embodiment of a noble cause and unswerving dedication to the very same cause she espoused selflessly and held dear to her heart........