The Crimes Of India

We should all take up the role of journalists from time to time, especially in this era of “selective journalism.”

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I am a big fan of vigilante justice. You may tell me that it’s legally incorrect, but I swing where justice prevails.Recently, a series of incidents in India have caused nationwide protests and garnered international attention. But these are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the issues the country faces.While this article was initially intended to address cultural crimes in India, the political realities can’t be ignored. India is often left to political satirists to decode, but here are some recent incidents that should cause public outrage:

Manipur Violence —

A devastating civil war has erupted in the northeastern Indian state of Manipur, pitting two indigenous tribes against each other. The violence has resulted in widespread displacement, loss of life, and horrific acts of sexual violence. Reports/Footage of women being paraded naked on the streets have sparked outrage both domestically and internationally. Despite the gravity of the situation, the violence has received limited coverage in mainstream Indian media.

Is Journalism Biased?
This brings up a critical question: is Indian journalism selectively biased? Is free speech only allowed when it aligns with the government’s views? As citizens, should we stay silent when such injustices unfold?

The Pune Porshe Case Accident —

A 17-year-old, driving a luxury Porsche, caused a fatal accident in Pune. The driver, who was reportedly intoxicated, killed two people. Despite the severity of the crime, the court imposed a lenient sentence, requiring the driver to write a mere 300-word essay. The lenient treatment of the wealthy minor has sparked outrage and raised questions about India’s justice system.

Meanwhile, Umar Khalid a student protester arrested 4 years ago is still in jail over ‘insufficient evidence’. His detention has raised concerns about the misuse of sedition and anti-terror laws, as his case has seen delays and criticisms about insufficient evidence. This highlights inconsistencies in how justice is delivered.

Asia’s richest man’s son’s wedding —

had caused significant disruption in Mumbai. The event had led to road closures and traffic jams, inconveniencing ordinary citizens. The privileged treatment afforded to the wealthy has further fueled resentment and inequality.

This happens when the country’s entire student population is protesting over the Fraud of the National Medical Exam (the toughest competitive exam here), a Paper leak for rich apparently, and yet this isn’t top priority?

Kolkata Rape Case —

Moumita Debnath, a 31-year-old doctor is raped in the hospital’s seminar room after doing 36-hour duty. This happens with witnesses being present in the hospital but too scared of being wrongfully targeted by powerful people thereby highlighting the issue of safety for women, even in professional spaces, remaining critical. She eventually succumbed to her injuries.The entire nation is outraged over this incident and yet the month following this case, there’s a rise in rape cases all over India.

But well, the majority of protesters were Doctors who took to streets. The question stands: if a doctor is assaulted, should only doctors protest? Where is the rest of the country in demanding justice for women?

Elderly Man Beaten by aspiring Cops in public train—

Over what exactly was he beaten? For carrying beef in a month when non-veg isn’t consumed by the majority of the country. But does that give you the right to beat someone??

We’ve been declared a secular democratic country for our diverse cultures and heritage for a very very long time now. How is it that now we see unprecedented cases of religious extremism? Are we really working towards an ideal India?

Now if you look at these cases and go for an update, mind you, some of them have been jailed thanks to public outcry. If we examine these cases, it’s clear that public outcry has become necessary for justice to be served.But the troubling reality is that justice should not be reliant on outrage. It should be embedded in the system.

As Ravish Kumar once said:
“The reason for their silence was simple. They understood, ‘If the mob can do this to these people, it can do the same to me.’ People joined the mob to silence others; what they did not realize was that they had also learned to become and remain silent.”

And, in another striking quote:
“News channels have worked tirelessly to kill India’s democratic ideals, with the result that vast numbers of the Indian people follow channels that ask no questions of the government. These channels have trained their viewers to watch only a particular kind of TV where nothing is demanded of them, except a willing and complete suspension of belief. And absolute amorality. Elected representatives can garland killers, ministers can lie, news anchors can read out government press releases as news. It bothers no one enough.”

“Fake news engenders fake debates, and fake debates result in fake politics. It is a means to take the focus far away from the real problems that affect people.”

I’ll end on this note: if the youth of this country don’t take action now, the problems we ignore today will come knocking at our doors tomorrow.

P.S. This article stands on its own, unlinked from my other works. Take a moment to reflect on whether this is how we want to proceed as a society.