Abduction and Apathy
Mid December 2006. Two men of Border Roads Organisation were kidnapped by unidentified militant group in Assam. The kidnapping occurred on the borders of Bhutan. One of the kidnapped was released and another – a BR II – continues to be in captivity. It is going to be a month soon. There has been no contact with the militants for a long time now (after the BR II’s mobile on which the militants were being contacted was blocked thanks to someone’s stupidity). It is believed that the kidnappers have asked for a ransom of Rs. 3 Crores to start a new militant group! No known militant group has as yet claimed responsibility.
There are a few surprising things here. One, the news has not reached the national media yet. Indian – read Hindi in particular – media has shown incredible hunger for eye-catching news. Zee News has cried itself hoarse over the episodes of the boy falling into a well (I wonder how many TRPs were gained by Zee though), the Noida killings, and such other human interest stories (read Crime Stories). Ditto NDTV. Ditto Star News. Ditto India TV. But no channel has telecast this piece of kidnapping. They are still in the dark about it.
Two, it is a rare incident of militants kidnapping Border Roads personnel. Militants share a good rapport with the Border Roads. Do not mistake this as militants being supported by Border Roads. It’s more like a symbiotic relationship. Border Roads’ projects work in all the militancy affected states of India – Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. It is rare that a BR personnel is abducted by militants and nor are the border roads vehicles targeted. In Kashmir, when militants had looted explosives from the Border Roads personnel at gun point (that too is debatable), they also had left a letter behind. It asked the Border Roads people to paint the triangular logo of the Border Roads to be painted boldly on their vehicles so that their vehicles could be distinguished by the militants from those of the BSF (and it was incorporated too) – both BSF and BRO vehicles are painted blue and Army Vehicles are green.
It is also strongly believed (I won’t corroborate anything) that militants in the North-Eastern states at times travel in the BRO vehicles for safe passage. It is also rumoured that the BRO projects supply part of their free rations to these militant groups time to time. Also, surrendered militants, kith and kin of current militants are supposedly hired by Border Roads projects. It is of course common knowledge that the contractors pay militant groups to ensure that their work does not get affected (it’s not certain though if Border Roads officials pay too, from the bribes they receive from the contractors). I also have wondered if the conditions in which they work makes the GREF (and the Army) personnel so corrupt. Ironically the motto of the BRO is ‘A Corruption-free Organisation. I am resolute that it must be changed to ‘A Free Corruption Organisation’. Corruption is a ‘free-for-all’ here. However that doesn’t take away certain creditable things from the BRO. The trying conditions under which they work. The marvellous infrastructure that they have created across the inaccessible terrains of the North-East, North and Bhutan. And this despite being treated second-class in their own organisation.
Stories abound of the visits of militant leaders in the North-Eastern states into the camps of Border Roads.
**************************
I learnt of the kidnapping almost on the eve of the New Year’s. The second-in-command of the project had called a meeting of all the officers to discuss plans to celebrate the New Year. I – as usual – reached late and everyone was waiting impatiently for my arrival.
“So, you all must be aware of the situation that a BR II has been kidnapped from xx TF. I thought we might all sit together and decide if we could hold a new year’s party under these circumstances”. Finally it was decided that there would be no official New Year party to express solidarity with the family of the kidnapped and boost the morale of the troops. There would be a party at the Col.’s house. I excused myself from the party.
During these discussions I expressed my surprise at the news not being covered by the National media. I suggested that someone should call up and alert the media – NDTV, Zee, Star. My reasoning was that this could build pressure on the concerned authorities and even the militant groups involved to act. I was assured by the boss that he would immediately pass on this message to those concerned in Guwahati so that they’d act on it.
It’s over 10 days. Nothing has come out of it. The news is yet to appear in the media – except for the local ones. And those reported of the abduction also made glaring errors in their reporting. ‘An army personnel has been abducted’ the report stated. I feel dejected and frustrated. Is that all the organisation cares about its people? Most officers too seem apathetic except for mouthing a few sympathetic words.
Even to this day MOST media doesn’t know that Border Roads is composed of GREF (Garrison Reserve Engineering Force) and Army. They don’t know what GREF stands for. Nor does anyone care. A Kutty died in Afghanistan. The story was alive for a while. It’s back to square one. I wonder what I should do now.
There are a few surprising things here. One, the news has not reached the national media yet. Indian – read Hindi in particular – media has shown incredible hunger for eye-catching news. Zee News has cried itself hoarse over the episodes of the boy falling into a well (I wonder how many TRPs were gained by Zee though), the Noida killings, and such other human interest stories (read Crime Stories). Ditto NDTV. Ditto Star News. Ditto India TV. But no channel has telecast this piece of kidnapping. They are still in the dark about it.
Two, it is a rare incident of militants kidnapping Border Roads personnel. Militants share a good rapport with the Border Roads. Do not mistake this as militants being supported by Border Roads. It’s more like a symbiotic relationship. Border Roads’ projects work in all the militancy affected states of India – Kashmir, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Nagaland. It is rare that a BR personnel is abducted by militants and nor are the border roads vehicles targeted. In Kashmir, when militants had looted explosives from the Border Roads personnel at gun point (that too is debatable), they also had left a letter behind. It asked the Border Roads people to paint the triangular logo of the Border Roads to be painted boldly on their vehicles so that their vehicles could be distinguished by the militants from those of the BSF (and it was incorporated too) – both BSF and BRO vehicles are painted blue and Army Vehicles are green.
It is also strongly believed (I won’t corroborate anything) that militants in the North-Eastern states at times travel in the BRO vehicles for safe passage. It is also rumoured that the BRO projects supply part of their free rations to these militant groups time to time. Also, surrendered militants, kith and kin of current militants are supposedly hired by Border Roads projects. It is of course common knowledge that the contractors pay militant groups to ensure that their work does not get affected (it’s not certain though if Border Roads officials pay too, from the bribes they receive from the contractors). I also have wondered if the conditions in which they work makes the GREF (and the Army) personnel so corrupt. Ironically the motto of the BRO is ‘A Corruption-free Organisation. I am resolute that it must be changed to ‘A Free Corruption Organisation’. Corruption is a ‘free-for-all’ here. However that doesn’t take away certain creditable things from the BRO. The trying conditions under which they work. The marvellous infrastructure that they have created across the inaccessible terrains of the North-East, North and Bhutan. And this despite being treated second-class in their own organisation.
Stories abound of the visits of militant leaders in the North-Eastern states into the camps of Border Roads.
**************************
I learnt of the kidnapping almost on the eve of the New Year’s. The second-in-command of the project had called a meeting of all the officers to discuss plans to celebrate the New Year. I – as usual – reached late and everyone was waiting impatiently for my arrival.
“So, you all must be aware of the situation that a BR II has been kidnapped from xx TF. I thought we might all sit together and decide if we could hold a new year’s party under these circumstances”. Finally it was decided that there would be no official New Year party to express solidarity with the family of the kidnapped and boost the morale of the troops. There would be a party at the Col.’s house. I excused myself from the party.
During these discussions I expressed my surprise at the news not being covered by the National media. I suggested that someone should call up and alert the media – NDTV, Zee, Star. My reasoning was that this could build pressure on the concerned authorities and even the militant groups involved to act. I was assured by the boss that he would immediately pass on this message to those concerned in Guwahati so that they’d act on it.
It’s over 10 days. Nothing has come out of it. The news is yet to appear in the media – except for the local ones. And those reported of the abduction also made glaring errors in their reporting. ‘An army personnel has been abducted’ the report stated. I feel dejected and frustrated. Is that all the organisation cares about its people? Most officers too seem apathetic except for mouthing a few sympathetic words.
Even to this day MOST media doesn’t know that Border Roads is composed of GREF (Garrison Reserve Engineering Force) and Army. They don’t know what GREF stands for. Nor does anyone care. A Kutty died in Afghanistan. The story was alive for a while. It’s back to square one. I wonder what I should do now.
Labels: Abduction, Border Roads
posted by Quintessential Critic (Sudhir Narayana) @ 3:46 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Ohhh, thats a damn good piece. But I only hope you dont ruffle the "unruffled".
However, the apathy of the media and the rulers are nothing new in the subcontinent and India. I have long since believed that our nation is perhaps the most hypocritical nation one can ever encounter.
Sad but oh so true.......
Post a Comment
<< Home