Home?!!

31 July 9.30 PM.
Just moved in to the newly rented apartment.
Feeling terrible.
Going to sleep with my fingers crossed hoping against hopes to wake up in our cozy little bedroom at Bos en Vaartlaan.

who is to be blamed?

Deeply moved by the news of 26 CRPF men killed in a naxal attack at Chattisgarh, I googled "CRPF jawans killed". The results were shocking. Below is a summary of naxal attacks on CRPF men for the past few years. This is not all, but just what I could gather from internet. Interestingly, in spite of similar strategies being adopted for the attacks, the enemies have been able to successfully carry out their operations for the past 4-5 years.

Post-mortem of this incident is in progress on all the news channels for the past couple of days. Few key points that are being discussed are

CRPF is ill-equipped while the opponents have access to advanced and highly sophisticated weapons.
There is no clear strategy for the CRPF deployment in these sensitive regions.
The most important fact is that the government is not clear about actions to be taken against naxals due to disagreement between political parties. Though the CRPF is deployed in these areas, there is no plan of action whatsoever.

While the government is busy playing the blame-game, it's heart wrenching to see the families cry their heart out in front of the mutilated bodies of the jawans.

When do we learn to value lives :(


Facts:
30 Jun 2010, Chattisgarh: Twenty six CRPF jawans were killed and seven injured in a major Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.


4 Jun 2010, Lalgarh: 4 CRPF jawans, deputy commandant killed in Lalgarh landmine explosion.


19 May 2010, Lalgarh: Four Central Reserve Police Force personnel were on Wednesday killed and two injured in an Improvised Explosive Device blast triggered by Naxals at Lalgarh in West Bengal on the second day of their bandh called in five state.


8 May 2010, Chattisgarh: Eight CRPF jawans were killed when Naxals blew up a bullet-proof vehicle in Bijapur district of Chhhattisgarh in the first major attack.


6 Apr 2010, Chattisgarh: At least 73 CRPF personnel have been killed in a deadly Maoist attack in the jungles of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday.


29 Sep 2009, Srinagar: Srinagar Militants strike at a crowded bus stand in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore town on Tuesday evening, killing three CRPF jawans.


9 July 2008, Assam: DHD (Jewel) militants opened fire at a CRPF patrol party at Maibong in Karbi Anglong district at around 0730 hours, killing two CRPF jawans.


2 Nov 2007, Assam: Seven CRPF jawans were killed in an ambush by DHD miliatnts in Thai Jawari area near village Longting under Umrongsho police station in the North Cachar Hills district.


1 Jun 2005, Chattisgarh: Six CRPF personnel, including a Deputy Sub Inspector, were killed today and 14 security personnel injured, in two land-mine blasts and firing by Maoists in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh

disgust...

She said that she feels like a road sign with birds shitting on her....

Law??!!

If you thought laws were made to protect people, have a look at these articles in the Shia Personal Status Law, also called the Rape Law.

Obedience, readiness for intercourse and not leaving the house without the permission of the husband are the duties of the wife, violation of every one of them will mean disobedience to the husband.
Rape within marriage is legal.
Rape is included in the category of Zina (adultery) and the victims who are minor girls or women are stoned to death. (Their unpardonable crime is to have been raped.)
In a rape case, circumstantial evidences are not considered and there has to be at least four adult male witnesses.
If a rape is proven (which does not happen in 99 out of 100 cases), the rapist is obliged to pay the victim the amount typically received as marriage payment to similar brides (and can go scot free)
(As no other punishment is mentioned, the punishment of rape, if proven, can be only financial compensation)
In a rape case, the evidence of women is originally inadmissible on account of their weakness of understanding; want of memory and incapacity of governing.
Adultery also includes any type of intimate relationship between a girl/woman and a man to whom she is not permanently or temporarily married. Such a relationship does not necessarily mean a sexual relationship.
The law denies women the right to leave their homes except for ‘legitimate’ purposes.
Women are forbidden from working or receiving education without their husband’s permission.
Women must wear make-up if their husbands wished.
Guardianship of children is granted to either father or paternal grandfather.

These are the articles in the Shia Law to which a new amendment has been passed in July which gives the husband right to starve his wife/wives who refuse sex.

I cannot believe such a society can exist. I cannot believe there is a set of people who support such laws. I cannot believe there is a government which passes such bills for political gains. My heart goes out for the women who have to go through such barbaric and heinous acts all though their lives. I pity those children who grow up witnessing women being stoned and caned to death.

I feel extremely grateful for being associated with family, friends, society, city, nation, government, legislation, people who respect my individuality.
I’m grateful to be able to ride back from work in the night and still feel safe.
I’m grateful for not having gone through a traumatic experience of being beaten and chased by random strangers for dancing in a pub being a woman.
I’m grateful to be able to express my thoughts, take my decisions, and exercise my right to education.

Life...

ಇರುವುದೆಲ್ಲವ ಬಿಟ್ಟು ಇರದುದರೆಡೆಗೆ ತುಡಿವುದೇ ಜೀವನ!!