As an editor, I have spent more than four decades reading grim headlines over my morning tea. Some anger me. Some sadden me. A few make me put the newspaper down before reading on. This morning’s front-page story from West Bengal did something else. It made me understand why so many ordinary Indians quietly nodded in approval.
The main accused in the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in Baruipur was killed in what the police described as an encounter while being taken to reconstruct the crime. He and three others had allegedly planned the horrific assault. The child, who had stepped out to buy a birthday gift, was kidnapped, gang-raped, stuffed into a sack and thrown into a pond while she was still alive. Her body bore horrific injuries. The city erupted in violent protests. Police action to control the unrest claimed another life.
According to the official account, the accused snatched a policeman’s service revolver while attempting to escape and opened fire. The police returned fire in self-defence. He was declared dead on arrival at hospital. Few people will accept that version without asking difficult questions. Human rights groups are likely to demand accountability. The Opposition may seek a judicial inquiry. Those are legitimate questions in a democracy governed by the rule of law.
Yet another reality cannot be ignored. Nearly 90 rapes are officially reported in India every day; roughly one every 17 minutes. Those numbers reflect only the cases that reach a police station. Countless others never do. Survivors often remain silent, fearing social stigma, intimidation or an insensitive system that can make seeking justice almost as traumatic as the crime itself.
When the justice system appears painfully slow, public faith begins to drift from courtrooms to encounters. That is a dangerous place for any democracy to find itself. But it is equally unrealistic to pretend that millions of ordinary citizens do not feel relief when someone accused of such unimaginable brutality can never harm another child again.
I cannot celebrate an encounter. The rule of law must always remain stronger than the rule of anger. But neither can I ignore why so many people greeted this morning’s headline with relief rather than regret. That is the real indictment — not of one accused man who is now dead, but of a justice system that has too often been painfully slow, inconsistent and inaccessible to victims. Until justice is seen to be swift, certain and fair, every encounter will be applauded by some, questioned by others, and mourned by almost no one. That, more than the encounter itself, should trouble all of us.
About Mark Manuel
The above thoughts/content has been proudly copied from the wall of Sir Mark Manuel. Being interviewing almost every role model of this country and going stronger each day. Mark Manuel is a respected Mumbai editor, writer, and columnist.
With over three decades of journalism in leading publications. This includes the Free Press Journal, Times, Dainik Bhaskar, Mid-Day, and Afternoon. He is famous for his brilliant pen interviews. He himself is a TEDx speaker.
Further
His interviews have featured in several leading media houses. They include the Hindustan Times, Huffington Post, BBC, and Network 18. Almost every famous person has been interviewed by him in the country from Mother Teresa to Muhammad Ali. His first book is just out. It’s titled Moryaa Re! It is a crime thriller that is perhaps the country’s first police procedural. He began his career covering crime. And in a tribute to his experience and knowledge of this beat.
Several distinguished officers of the Mumbai Police and its Crime Branch collaborated with him to make this book possible. Amitabh Bachchan wrote the forward in a statement of friendship for Mark Manuel and admiration for his work.
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