The Unknown Unjust
Against victims of fake encounters and their families
Rotten vegetables laid disorderly inside the half-open fridge in the kitchen. A parched stove hung on the wall, utensils scattered on the ground, dust had polished them brown.
Thann…… the sound of the tin echoed in the silent kitchen as Mala opened the canister of wheat flour. Nothing was left to eat today. She frantically checked the pantry that used to be filled with dry fruits and plenty of eatables once, but every attempt seemed like firing a gun without a bullet. She decided to borrow some flour from her neighbour but hesitated if they will share it with her. Lately, her neighbours have been behaving strangely and she knew that it was all happening because of Raju, her son. But ultimately hunger got the better of her, and she left home to Radha’s house with an empty bowl in her hand.
Radha and Mala were good friends and neighbours. They got married in the same year and often attended the public gatherings together, at least those that were allowed for women. In the evening after preparing meals, they spent hours sharing their joys and sorrows. Rohit, Radha’s husband, was not fond of their friendship and often scolded Radha for spending time with Mala. But this did not deter their friendship and their bond remained strong even with twenty years of Radha’s wedlock. However, today, as Mala nears her friend’s house, her steps are hesitant.
In their drawing-room, Radha and Rohit were discussing an encounter case that they had seen on television. Mala entered their house from the back door and sensed something suspicious. She started listening to their conversation from behind the doors.
Rohit: According to the police, they killed him in an encounter while he was trying to escape from police custody contrary to Mala’s claim. She said, “Police killed him because he was not offering the bribe despite having liquor shops in that area.”
Radha: But he was a very good person, he had even made a school for our children. I raised him like our child, how can I believe you?
Rohit: I always told you, don’t fall in his trap. Vo to daant failakar ghighiyata tha aur paida bhi kulakshini samay par hua tha. Is kalyug me koi accha nhi hai, sab matlabi hain (He had a smirky smile and he was born in an inauspicious time. Nobody is nice in this modern world, everyone is selfish). He was using the school to deceive people and embezzle profits made at his shop. It was only to gain respect in the society.
Then he toned down and said, “Ye nichi jati valo ka kya Biswas, inke sharir ki tarah inki soch bhi dooshit hoti hai (We can’t trust these lower caste people. Just as their body, their mind is also polluted).”
Radha slipped down the memory lane, she had looked after Raju since his childhood as he were her own deceased son. Mala would often borrow milk from Radha but she had never asked for any money, his smile was enough to bring warmth to her heart. As a child, he often sneaked into Radha’s house to sleep next to her and she grew fonder of his innocence as the days went by.
Two years ago, Raju had received a license for a liquor shop in his village Rampur in Kannauj district of Uttar Pradesh. He had started selling liquor at reasonable prices, sales had increased manifold in two years. When profits became stable, he decided to open two more shops in nearby villages. He had also started a charity school which was incentivised with the profit of these shops. As profits were increasing, police patrolling also became regular around his shops and they started asking for bribes.
One day a constable came to his shop and declared, “Raju, it’s been two years and you haven’t given a single rupee as Nazrana (offerings). Saheb has asked us to raid your shop but I am leaving you because we are from the same community. Don’t be childish, do whatever he says otherwise it may cost you much!” He refused to pay the desired amount but he knew that nobody could refuse the offerings to gods.
Despite having a financial crunch for schools, he was somehow managing the needs to keep it functional with the help of a few villagers and local leaders. But on 26th December 2019, a few people died in a nearby village because of the consumption of local liquor. A complaint was lodged against Raju by families of dead people. According to Mala, “they had taken Raju to the local police station without even informing her.” The very next day after his arrest, he was found dead near the Yamuna Canal, Agra.
Streams of tears started running down Mala’s cheeks as she waited behind the door. Rohit increased the volume, Radha snapped and the couple decided to pay closer attention to the news channel debate.
Kaamili: Good morning! A very warm welcome in today’s big debate- Kaun hai kaatil (Who is the murderer). We have Mr Girdharilal, an MLA from Rashtravadi party; encounter specialist, former SP- Mr Ajay Raj and Anu a human rights activist. Shuru krte hain jordaar bahas Ajay ji ke sath, jo mahatvapurna safalta police ne hasil ki Raju ko maarkar, use aap UP ke mukhyamntri ko kitna shrey dena chahenge? (Let’s start with Mr Ajay Raj, how much credit should be given to the present Chief Minister for this big achievement?)
Ajay Raj: Definitely, I would like to congratulate UP police and also would like to thank the Chief Minister without whom, this decreasing crime rate would not be a reality. He is tactically playing with the criminals of UP and soon it will become a crime-less state.
Kaamili: Additional Superintendent of Police has said, “He was selling methyl rich local liquor illegally and despite repetitive warnings, he didn’t stop his dirty business. He was arrested from home on Monday morning and while being taken to Agra Jail, he had tried to escape with the help of the gun of a constable. As a response to his audacious attempt, he was shot down by the police in cross-firing near the canal.” What are your views Anu?
Anu: I have two questions in my mind- first, police didn’t clear the air about why they were taking him to the Agra Jail and second, and how exactly did he get the revolver in his hand? Apart…( Girdharilal interrupted!)
Girdharilal: Inke jaise librandu hi criminals ko bachate rhe hain, ye hi atankwadi hain (These pseudo-liberals has been saving these criminals and they all are terrorists)
Kaamili (In an interrogatory manner): Anu ji, aap par aatankwadi hone ka aarop lagaya ja rha hai, kya ye sahi hai? Aap log kyun bachate hain in aparadhiyon ko? (Anu, they are calling you a terrorist, is that allegation true? Why do you all try to save criminals?)
Anu: But the court has not given any judgment till now and according to the Indian Constitution, every person has the right to defend himself. How can……..
Ajay Raj (Suddenly shouting at Anu): People like you always try to save Kasaab in court.
Anu (Struggling to find a space for her arguments): Please let me speak…
Kaamili (In a derogatory manner): Ab kya bolna chahti hain aap? Kya ye mudda seedha nhi hai? Itne logo ki jaan chali gyi, use chhod kar aap ek mulzim ko bacha rhi hain. (Isn’t it a straightforward case? What do you have to say now? You are trying to save a criminal even though many lives have been lost).
Radha turned off the T.V. as she was tired of baloney. They were showing only one side of the story with countless moulded facts.
“Arre Mala!” someone called from behind her back. Mala couldn’t stop her tears and ran away with her bowl empty. She reminisced how her son had made her proud after opening a school for he never had the opportunity to attend one as a child. Vivid memories of the long discussion came to her when he spoke to her of his dream one afternoon. She had not realized how much her son had grown up as she recollected her conversation with Raju from a year ago.
Raju: Amma! I always wanted to study but we did not have any primary school in our village at that time. I want to build a school for the kids in our village.
Mala: Beta! People do not have food to eat in our village, how will they send the children to study at your school?
Raju: If needed, I would also provide food for children to bring them to the gates of education. But I will open a school without fail. A dream demands small sacrifices and I am ready to sacrifice anything for this dream.
Raju has been very passionate about opening even more schools that could provide free education to poor yet talented children. He used to say that it did not matter where the money came from for the cause it was supporting was sacrosanct to him. After his death, Mala received many threats on a daily basis. She was asked to close the school and leave the village but she decided to stay back. Her son wished to fight for a change and she chose to live for her son’s dream. The school was shut for the past two weeks. She had sold her meagre jewellery to keep the school functional for a week but now, all she had were some empty canisters.
About the story
This story is about Mala, a distressed widow who has lost her son Raju in a police encounter. She believes her son to be innocent and had sought every possible help from the Human Rights Commission to courts, but nothing resulted in her favour. She is a victim of social boycott where her existence is now threatened within her village. The story showcases how stigma had perpetuated in the minds of not just villagers but her dear friend as she laments the loss of her defamed son, ostracised in her solitude.
About the Author
Ujjwal Katiyar has done his Master’s in Geography from Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He has been awarded Junior Research Fellowships in Geography and Earth Sciences by UGC and CSIR respectively. Currently, he is a Young India Fellow at Ashoka University.
