Anushka Martolia
Nov 3 · 2 min read

Munsiyari: Police Turned Goons

It’s been more than two weeks. He dreads to take a step outside. "What if they hurt me again?", the thought resonates in his mind.


Vikram, breadwinner of the Jangpangi family, used to run a small restaurant in the quiet village of Munsiyari. Last month he got physically assaulted by the Munsiyari police. The charge being unavailability of chairs in the peak hours of the restaurant. He got beaten up twice by the same policeman and his sidekicks- while winding up his shop and when he went to file a complaint in the police station.

What came as a shocker was the ugly turn over racial abuse. Slurs were used by the Police Head against the Bhotia tribe to which Vikram belongs. He was ridiculed and beaten up to have stepped up against one of their colleagues while 'being a Bhotia'.

The inhumane thrashing left him physically and mentally injured. Currently on medications, Vikram is also being treated for the after effects of the brutal turn out of events.

The insensitivity of the authorities towards this issue is discerning. Just to save the pride of some officials, no action is being taken against the offenders.

Is everyone equal before law or are there different jurisdictions to punishing the ones in power? Or are they always left unchecked and excused for their conduct?

This is the country where FIRs are issued against offensive comedians and intellectuals who write letter to PMO. There are debates and discussions over the likes and dislikes of people in power, whether they like mangoes or mushrooms. But no heed is paid to cases of racial discrimination and power abuse over minorities.

This depresses us, the victims of a blindfolded system that gags the truth and disillusions us over a relentlessly promised thought of good days.

Will this just be another stifled case that goes long forgotten crumbling the voices of those in the minority.

Or will justice prevail?

    Anushka Martolia

    Written by

    All I strive for is justice and harmony. Also, solemnly defenestrate the idea of not striving to be more than what we already are.

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