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Courtesy: http://sankaracharyaarticles.blogspot.com
[Except for the column by Dina Nath Mishra in "The Daily Pioneer", the Indian press has been uncharacteristically silent on the Tamil Nadu government's police action against one of their own, journalist Gurumurthy. The Tamil press awakens from its slumber in this editorial from this week's issue of Kalki. In measured tones, the noted journal lays out the issue before the public. This one is worth passing around... --The Editor, http://sankaracharyaarticles.blogspot.com]
It is evident that, in the past few years the Police Department has been functioning merely as a special army of the ruling partying Tamil Nadu. In the Sankararaman murder case, the court judgments and orders published to date, do not add to the Police Department's prestige. Now, they continue their muddling with a case against Gurumurthy, the interrogation of Cho and Sonthalia, and anyone who is in the bad books of the Government, or whomever the Police dislikes as well. If this continues, each and every Tamilian will have to think hard about 'What can be done to protect oneself from the Police Department', warns the Tamil Weekly 'Kalki'.
Excerpts:
Law does not function on mere suspicion. Justice can prevail only on irrefutable and proper evidence. The responsibility and effectiveness of the Police Department lies in presenting only the evidences which are acceptable under law. In the Sankararaman murder case, the court judgments and orders published to date, do not add to the Police Department's prestige.
The Supreme Court, which granted bail to Jayendrar, has severely rebuked that the evidence submitted by the Police is weak.
The Chennai High Court, while granting bail to Vijayendrar, rejected the evidences presented, considering them as weak. The High Court also rejected the Police's claim that "Vijayendrar will tamper with the case if granted bail." The chances of that happening are very slim and the bail for Vijayendrar cannot therefore be refused, said the High Court.
The High Court not only ruled that the freezing of the bank accounts of the Sankaramatam & its Trusts is wrong, but also gave a stern warning to the Special Investigating Team. "If you divert from the course of investigation, a black cloud of doubt will fall upon you," [the Court] rebuked. 'The Mutt and the Mataadipathi are seperate entities. Just because accusations have been made against the Mataadipathi, the social services of the Mutt should not be brought to a standstill.' This opinion expressed by the High Court is extremely important to ponder.
The Tamil Nadu Police's actions have been conducted very intently in such a way as to deeply degrade and humiliate the Mutt and its devotees. Whether it be the manner in which Vijayendrar, who was fully cooperating with the investigation, was arrested; whether it be the leak of Jayendrar's police custody interrogation video to the media; whether it be the charge-sheet being placed at Varadaraja Perumal's altar for prayers, claiming He is a witness; or whether it be the way Jayendrar & Vijayendrar were summoned in for copies of the charge-sheet and sent away empty-handed ... all these incidents sully the credibility and reputation of the Tamil Nadu Police Department. In a very, very important case like this one, that too when great men revered by the People are accused, shouldn't the Police act on the basis of extremely solid evidence? Shouldn't they conduct the case without yielding to delays or, instead, to vicious rumors? Paying respect to the People's sentiments, shouldn't they show character and treat the accused very respectfully?
The Chief Minister who said at the outset: "This case fills [me] with a heavy heart. The Law must take its course," is the one responsible for internal affairs. The Chief Minister has so far failed to utter a single word or opinion regarding the set-backs in this case. But instead, she has been engaged only in justifying the excesses and deplorable behaviour of the Police!
It is evident that, in the past few years the Police Department has been functioning merely as a special army of the ruling party. The Department has been forced to concede to the political likes and dislikes and personal preferences of the Government. Its neutrality has collapsed. Police Officials' aggressiveness and arrogance have increased. Not just in Tamil Nadu... that this is the situation all over India is no consolation to the Tamil People. The Tamil Nadu Police Department might have shown 'accomplishment' in encounters. However, in maintaining Law and Order, in handling complicated situations, they have met only massive failures. A-murder-a-day and a-robbery-an-hour seems to be the order of the day.
Now, in the Sankararaman murder case, as the saying goes -- "catching the tail instead of the udder", they continue their muddling with a case against Gurumurthy, the interrogation of Cho & Sonthalia, and anyone who is in the bad books of the Government, or whomever the Police dislikes as well.
If this continues, each and every
Tamilian will have to think hard about 'What can be done to protect oneself
from the Police Department'.
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