By Shahnaz – 23 August 2005
Reuters reports that voices are being raised in India to curb its army. Mother of 15-years Sanamacha collapsed in tears as she spoke with Reuters that her daughter a student was dragged from her home in Manipur by army troops and taken away for never ever to come back. Last year 32 years Manorma Devi was pulled out form her home and in a few hours found dead. The residents say she was raped before killing by Indian army with bullets. On inquest semen was found on her dress. Old women of the area took off their clothes in front of army barracks and paraded a sign saying “Indian Army, rape us”. The army admitted it was a mistake but in a country self labeled as world’s biggest democracy with freedom of speech through a court it blocked any media coverage of this incident. A fortnight back 2000 people marched in streets of the town protesting and demanding curbing army’s powers. This is not in Kashmir but in Indian State and by ordinary people of villages and towns demanding and protesting so. Central Interior Minister Shivraj Patel has admitted continuous increase of rapes in New Delhi says a n Indian and a western news agency on 8.8.2005. A news item appeared in foreign press on 08 August 2005 that US soldiers in Iraq have started taking Buttas (extortion) from shop keepers as is done in Karachi. According to details from the military sources California Army National Guard Troops got illegal monies from the shopkeepers. News item further says there had been similar reports in the past. The latest extortions have been committed in green zone area which was under the control of Commander Patric. The soldiers concerned as per news item stated that this was a mutual friendly “Lain Dain” between them and shopkeepers.
No Canadian Shafiaq Khan, no Ayaz Amir, no Asma Jehangir has spoken even a single word of condemnation or of sympathy for raped Devi because it relates to their Mai Bap India. According to another news of 19 August 2005 from Lucknow Muslim women would need to wear compulsorily veil for running political office. This news is from the secular India. I could not keep press cutting of a month or so back giving a reference of secular India inviting applications for appointments saying Muslims can not apply. I did not see this advertisement myself but read it in an article and could not through some incident keep it or remember the date etc. Indian calls centers are a risk and fraud says an Australian TV report. None of our so called liberal NGO, Human Right activists or columnist have spoken nor would I know anyone speak because it is not matter of Pakistan army or that of Pakistan.