It
was a chill
January evening. January 5, 2011
to be precise.
Some policemen landed
in my house
in my village Bhatotar
in Purnia district
in Bihar and
told me I was
required for interrogation concerning
the murder of Rajkishore
Keshri , a member of state
Assembly previous
day. But I
had apprehended what
was coming forth. I
had realised much
earlier that some
politicians sitting at Purnia,
Patna and Delhi
could not digest
my revelations on
their sexual escapades
and also anti national
activities. And
that MLA was killed
only
because he was part of that.
As a journalist I was well
acquainted with how police kill someone in
name of fake
encounters.
I
am a devout
devotee of Mother
Goddess Kali, the
Goddess of power
and killer of
evil forces. And the
temple of Goddess
Kali in my
village was that I
always looked at before
sleeping. Also I always keep
a photo of
Kali in my
shirt pocket.
As
the policemen were waiting
I had to
go. They told
me that I
would be taken to
Purnia, the district
headquarter about 45
kilometres away from my village.
It was
dark till then
and my nervousness mounting.
I told my
wife about that. She
said she would
accompany me with two
daughters. Before leaving
I did two
things. I informed
on phone my
journalist friends at
Purnia and Patna that I
was being picked up
and might be killed.
Besides I also kept
a small tape
recorder at my
undergarments attached to
genitals.
The
journey was quiet till
we reached at the
outskirts of Purnia town. The policemen
accompanying me were
directed to kill
me on way. But
they were confused
what to do with
my family hence
their message to their
“ bosses” for
further direction. Soon another vehicle
landed there and that was
the worst moment
of my life.
Three gunmen with
covered faces snatched
me out of
the jeep I
was, pushed my three
year old daughter on
ground and took
me to another
vehicle hurling all
abuses. They also
snatched my mobile. And
the last word I heard
was Papa from
my daughter. My
vehicle rushed to another
direction. Three AK 47s
pointed at my
neck and the man with
the driver asking
on phone” Where to
kill Sir ?”.
The
situation continued with
nearly an hour but at
every location they stopped
to kill me
had a hurdle. Fake
encounters always take
place at secluded
places, mind you.
I was more
concerned about my
family. But here again I had faith
on Mother Kali, the
photo still in
my pocket. And I remembered what we
were taught at
Patna Saint Xaviers “
God helps him
Who Helps Himself”.
These
bastards did not
know that all
their words were
recorded in the
tape at my
genitals. They had
not bothered to search
me and they
could not imagine
something hidden at that
place. Nearly one hour of
ordeal and I was
taken to a
police station. They could
not kill me but
they were free
to torture me.
And that continued
for another hour. Bruised
and battered I was
shoved into a
dingy room and
forced to sleep
on the naked
floor. Whole night I
prayed to Goddess
Kali for safety
of my family.
Next
day I came
to know that
my family was
safe and my
wife was live
on television. I was
kept in confinement
for two days
and then produced in
the court, not
before there was
worldwide news of my
kidnapping and a BBC
correspondent sending the news
to Indian Prime
Minister’s office and Bihar Chie
Minister Nitish Kumar
asking police bosses
at Patna to
search me at any
cost.
The
case of kidnapping,
attempted killing forged
FIR and confinement
of my wife
by two policemen
at late night,
is pending at
Patna High Court. Notices
have been sent to them.
Some have responded
while some are
evading. And this heinous crime
was at the
behest of those
politicians who wanted ( and
still want )
to kill me
at any cost.
Now my
firm faith in
the sermon” God Helps Him Who Helps Himself".
Don't back off no matter what . You have done the right thing . Its amazing you survived even though the whole government was against you .
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