The Army should respond immediately
…to these innumerable stories on Lieutenant Colonel Purohit and Malegaon blasts in the media.
Truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that. ~Edward R. Murrow
The Malegaon blasts, Lieutenant Colonel Purohit and ATS continue to hog the limelight in the Indian media, both print and television. A Google News search would reveal 1000 to 1500 stories in the media depending on the keywords used. Most of these stories are sensationalist in nature — unverified, attributed to unnamed sources and typically virulent. While this is not to disabuse the ATS findings or the widely held notion that Lieutenant Colonel Purohit is the prime culprit in the Malegaon blasts, the question that really boggles the mind is — Why hasn’t the Army responded publicly to these stories and clarified its position on the matter so far?
More than any civil organisation, the armed forces have historically known the value of communication, propaganda and counter-propaganda. Public diplomacy is a fanciful term used very often nowadays by the military to denote truthful propaganda and the Indian armed forces used it to great effect against Pakistan during the Kargil conflict. The Purohit-Malegaon case has continued to be the lead story for nearly two weeks now and the Indian Army, the one institution that has suffered the maximum damage from this story, has not officially reacted so far.
The two public responses, one by the Deputy Chief on the occasion of a Gorkha battalion moving to Congo, and the other by the Army Chief on a security visit to J&K, have been perfunctory at best. The ideal public diplomacy response should involve a detailed press briefing by a senior army officer, accompanied by a senior representative of the ATS (if feasible). This should give all out all the unclassified service details pertaining to Lieutenant Colonel Purohit, clarifications on the allegations raised in the media, and answer the charges purportedly framed by the ATS. Such a briefing is likely to be featured prominently in the Indian media and will dispel the many questions being raised against the army.
However, if the army is perceived to be shying away from a scrutiny by the media, then these questions against the army get strengthened and lend further credence to the innuendos, rumours, lies and half-truths floating around on the airwaves. It also depicts the army as being unsure of the truth and of its official position on the subject. The army does not deserve to be seen as apologetic and defensive by avoiding issuance of a clear, precise and truthful statement on the subject.
This shirking from public diplomacy has another damaging fallout for the army, other than destroying the already tenuous public image of this hoary institution. The vacuum left by the absence of an institutional response is filled in by military veterans of all hues, who have no locus standi on the matter.
This abdication of responsibility and authority on public diplomacy to the veterans may have been a deliberate ploy on the pay commission issue. The heavy politicisation of this Malegaon-Purohit issue, however, makes it totally unsuitable for the veterans to act as spokespersons for the army. Many veterans have political affiliations and a large number of them have been dissociated from the mainstream army for a significant number of years now, when the culture of the army has undergone a change during that period. These veterans also do not have access to any official records and thus their public defence of the army, based on anecdotes and emotional rants, is unable to effectively counter the mixed bag of lies, half-truths and truths dished out by the mainstream media.
The way ahead is simple. A twentieth-century organisation should learn not to survive, but to thrive in the realities of twenty-first century India. The army should publicly respond as an institution — effectively, honestly and credibly — before any further damage is inflicted on its public image by this media circus surrounding Lieutenant Colonel Purohit and Malegaon blasts. Time is of essence here. Any further delay in crafting a credible public message will only make this damage indelible.
Related posts — The Malegaon Major, More than Malegaon & It is up to the senior military officers
I CONCUR.
The Army must step in and:
a)Set up an in house investigation:- If this is an aberration then things need to be set right.
b) Avoid silence: Again if this is an aberration then silence amounts to being a party to the incident and implicit ratification of the rot.
c) If this is untrue then redeem the honor that has been lost. It is not only the soldier who has to be faithful to the organisation but the organisation must also reciprocate.
d) Since it involves a Senior officer, the Army must give regular updates to the press as official confirmed source. If the Army officer is involved in the incident the Army must take stern action but if this is fake then they must act in the interests of the honour of the organisation. If truth is to be brought out the Army must insist on an Army team which should be co-opted with the ATS during the investigations. Every week a joint statement should be given to the press and not cleverly designed leaks like the 60Kgs of RDX.
I do not concur.
[1] Perhaps the Military has learnt the hard way that the Media is NOT a Force Multiplier but majorly, a no brainer Divider – across the board, print or other.
[2] As the Mother Dog ( the said bespoke Bitch ) advised her puppies
who stopped to bark back in the gali at every Stray who randomly yapped
‘ Children, Life is too short and meaningful to raise your hind leg and
pee on the opposition at every stupid provocation.’
Cheers
Menon,
i think, Army has done the right thing for the first time. had army investigated the issue, it would have been accused of hiding facts, and fudging the issue. let us see the future of this case, which has proved political in nature from the beginning.
Purohit, will have the last laugh, with a ticket to one of the Political parties.
Army has truly distanced itself from the case, to sit back & enjoy the fun. had the army had to investigate, the poor chap would have been convicted by now and sitting in jail (if found guilty).
the handling of the case by ATS has already started created doubt in minds of ppl. first it was he has confessed, later they retracted. then it was RDX use in samjhauta blast, which was later retracted again. rest every thing is hearsay. even journalists commented on the way selective leaks were being given to selected papers / media channels to be retracted later.
what statements can the chiefs or the organisations give on the issue when they are themselves not not being told anything by the concerned persons.
@ Yash & PS
Rememeber the investigating agency is the very same which is clueless on the Mumbai train blasts and the Gateway of India blasts.
Leaving Col Purohit to the wolves is dangerous. Though the Nation has already started doubting their credentials but the Indian Congress grass is out to prove at this juncture (before the elections) that the BJP and the Military are dangerous for the country. They have the support of the Babus on this score.
If the Military does not want to comment the it should atleast carry out a clandestine investigation to uncover who the real traitors are. All is fair in love and war.
Today even Gen Sinha has not been spared. Tommorrow it can be the serving Chiefs. Why wait. The truth must be uncovered. This is what happens when you have a Foreign Waitress as the head of an impotent Govt.
Did Purohit source Army RDX for Samjhauta blasts?
@ menon, yash,
I thk that u guys have really lost it, similar to illogical, emotional rants in scpc.
“Wolves” Mr Menon are public servants, just like u were (perhaps) some time back. And they do earn their salary….
U have not followed the chain of events properly. They called for this person specifically, and arrested him after 3-4 days. And they have been taking remand of him ever since.
He is charged under sec 302 and associated charges. I hope that u know (i.e. if u did MML and passed part B) that it relates to murder charge (which in any case can not be tried by army). If there is enough evidence, then this gentleman is not going to go to jail, he is going to go to gallows.
So leave ur judicious comments for SCPC, babus and poor self like me. Let them do their work.
@ depps
There is another joker who cuts a cake with ‘Bhayya’ written and carries out murderous assaults on a community with the intent of spreading commmunal hatred and he is given bail & walks free. There is an Army Officer who is charged with the blast in the Samjhauta express and he is sentenced to the dungeons to twist the story. What if he is drugged and his staement sare used to make corroborative charges, like creating a crime from circumstances? Will the ATS personally be held responsible for slander if the charges are not proved? The same offence for which this was reported
‘ Investigations by the Delhi police indicated that Rehman, whose name and whereabouts were revealed by an alleged militant named Shabbir Ahmad arrested last July, could be involved in the train blasts. After his arrest by a team led by Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, the police are interrogating him to find if he had any role to play in the explosions. According to police sources, Rehman has not been very cooperative. However, the police feel they have credible reasons to suspect his role in the train blasts.
During interrogation, Rehman purportedly disclosed that during the three-month “Dhaura-e-Khas” training at a camp run by the Inter-Services Intelligence in the Sindh province of Pakistan in 2002, he was trained in handling weapons and manufacturing improvised explosive devices using timers and detonators. He was also given the training to configure “petrol bombs” and other bombs using watches and clocks as timer device.
In the train blasts, suitcase-bombs using a similar configuration were used. This is the prime reason for suspecting his complicity. The blasts were also suspected to be the handiwork of HuJI, the outfit that Rehman owes allegiance to.’
Friend, no way would we leave judicious comments and decisions to the SCPC, Babus and people like you.
“Wolves” Mr Menon are public servants, just like u were (perhaps) some time back. And they do earn their salary….
Incidentally ‘Wolves’ is decent. Something like ‘multiple paternal parentage is more approporiate.
The tragedy is that they do not EARN it.They PILFER it.
@pragmatic
“Any further delay in crafting a credible public message will only make this damage indelible.”
Seems the ‘Colonial’ Military has bitten off more than it can chew. Taking on Politicians + Bureaucracy + ignoring a Hostile ( tit bit fed, sic ‘em ? ) Media should lead to, agreed; ‘ indelible’ results. Losers ( any winners in this great game ? ) take all.
A neatly and cosily embedded Colonial Police can always work it better.
Some style improvements perhaps eg – Tasers could replace Lathis. Why pulp a guy with a big stick – even if it macho fun – when a medium tech 19 prf set of 100 microsec pulses carrying 100 microcoulombs at 50 kV / 1200 V- delivered with 1.9 milliamps can do it more neatly ?
In due course, with the Military out of the loop for all things Nuclear (the button with the trusty ITBP Chief perhaps ? ) and Cobra types with newly sanctioned khukris (today’s news) handling J&K, Naxal and NE problems with assistance from Greyhounds and other wolves, the Dogs of War can take a rest.
The media trial is based on Narco analysis. And what is narco analysis?
The Wikipedia says as follows of narco-analysis:
“Narco Analysis Test or Narco Test: This refers to the practice of administering barbiturates or certain other chemical substances, most often Pentothal Sodium, to lower a subject’s inhibitions, in the hope that the subject will more freely share information and feelings. The term Narco Analysis was coined by Horseley. Narco analysis first reached the mainstream in 1922, when Robert House, a Texas obstetrician used the drug scopolamine on two prisoners. Since then narco testing has become largely discredited in most democratic states, including the United States and Britain. There is a vast body of literature calling into question its ability to yield legal truth. Additionally, narcoanalysis has serious legal and ethical implications.”
“This, despite the fact that resort to narco-analysis –which was frequently resorted to by Hitler’s Nazis and Stalin’s KGB to obtain confessions from political dissidents– has stood condemned in the rest of the civilised world. Many of the thousands of political dissidents, who were sent to the Gulag and the firing squads by Stalin, were tried and convicted on the basis of narco-analysis.”
@PS #8:
Actually I do not see it as some scheming mandarins targeting the Indian army. The question in my blogpost — Shouldn’t army respond?
@realistic #9:
There is no need trying to defend Purohit. If the narco-tests are carried out on others charged with terrorism, then the same rule applies here. Let the law take its own course. The army has no business defending him without any facts or to be seen as hesitant with putting more facts about him on the table.
@ Menon
Well there is no pt arguing with u. The reasons are purely personal for me. But I would share it on this blog, so that atleast ppl who have not yet hardened their impressions of outside world may benefit.
U thk that every 1 is out to get u or cause harm to def services. U r so worried abt Purohit, why r u not worried abt Jerome mathews, or that ex IAF sargeant who was in news for killing his wife and children.
Please do understand that value system is basically personal incl values of honesty, professionalism, integrity, etc.
Though A/N/AF as an org give lot of emphasis on it, more than any other service, but still it is basically a personal thg.
There are lots of ppl like Raj thkry, etc, etc who make statements, provoke and incite tensions, But as a reasonable person (like Menon) who must have been provided training, ethos, is it justifiable that u indulge in such loose talks. Are u as a human being (of any religion or following) not supposed to make a reasoned judgement of whatever is happening.
I am not sure that u understand this. And therefore I quit (Atlas shrugged finally).
Thanks for ur patience and I do appreciate u taking time off to reply to me.
@ deppsh
Like you I do belive that the Military is plagued by many ills, but I feel that this may not be the right time to air them.
Like Pragmatic says the Military needs to be reformed and it is pointless going into a self denial mode, however, ask yourself whether this is the right juncture. Maybe we should wait a while.
Thanks a lot for your well reasoned reply.
Depp,
u have got it all wrong at @6. i am not defending him if he has done anything wrong. but the way media leaks are being engineered there appears to be no substantial proof till now. terrorism in any form is wrong. but the timing of this case has many ppl surprised. if ppl in the army intelligence are so sharp, that they can plan and execute such operations, i feel they shud be taken into RAW and other intelligence agencies (not purohit off course if he is guilty). army intelligence is not trained to plan operations, it is more so to gain information of military operations.
intelligence officers (of all organisations) keep in touch with various elements of all kinds. it is part of their job. his knowing of sadhvi, and others may have been a part of the job (i am still not defending him). i am sure if any evidence would have been found, he would not have been booked in frivolous charges of forgery (imagine the same person accuses him for whom he is supposed to have done it). somehow the whole thing does not gel.
60 kgs of RDX is not easy to carry from J&K to Nagpur, that is if he is able to lay his hands on such a thing, which is also unaccountable. even if he gets it, where does he hold it till he gives it to someone. an army officer lives the most unprivate life ever (they find it difficult to hide pondies in their room).
so depps, do not take it i am defending him. if he is guilty punish him and send him to gallows, but do not have him convicted by the media by placing selective leaks, which are proved as half or no truths later.
i do not support any political party, as none of them is worthy of it. i am only laughing at the way they have made a career for an army officer, for free!
@ Pragmatic #10
Armed forces will be the last to defend a terrorist.
The point made here is that Lt Col Purohit is not a terrorist yet.
Let the law take its course and come out with solid evidence which can stand the scrutiny of the law.
He’s innocent until proven guilty. And thats the point.
@Yash
“Purohit, will have the last laugh, with a ticket to one of the Political parties.
Army has truly distanced itself from the case, to sit back & enjoy the fun. had the army had to investigate, the poor chap would have been convicted by now and sitting in jail (if found guilty).”
This is what u had written. In any case I am commenting becoz u left comment for me.
I also did not say he is guilty. I just said if evidence favours otherwise, what may happen.
Ur next issue of forgery for getting a wpn being a frivolous issue is also not surprising. “No wonder, even after 10 yrs of applying for, I have not got a NSP wpn.” How can a wpn be issued to me, when “those are in limited quantity” and are given after “extreme scrutiny” of papers.
If u show Mr Date as major date on papers and are able to get a weapon also issued, don’t u think that we have come back to Sat Yug and Ram Rajya already.
Pardon my sarcasm, it is not to make fun of u. It is just to make the comment a little easy on the soul and the stomach. ” May God bless all “.
@Deppsh, Depps, Depp,
1. Presuming I address the same gentleman/ lady.
2. Purohit commits a forgery. Purohit suffers under The Army Act. What does ATS and the court in Nashik have to do with it? Rest assured, when the matter is investigated further, the issuance of the weapon to Date from the ordnance factory would be pursuant to some heavy monetary greasing of the civilian staff of the ordnance factory.
3. The ATS needs to stick to the Terrorism thing.
4. I am sure you do not realise, or care to realise in this state of animated blogging, how difficult it is for an army officer to first pilfer and then keep 60 kg explosive (that too RDX!) with him.
Now the ‘accused’ have been saddled with the MACOCA.
Why?
Because the police is getting nowhere and need to keep the hapless victims in their clutches to drug them with the narco test and build up a crime which can be slapped on them.
This is where the Army should have stepped in. The Lt Col is an Army man and not a pye-dog. How did the ATS carry out the arrests without prima facie evidence?
The Army should have a team of Army officers who will be with the officer 24/7. A record of all investigations should be kept by the Army.
Why does the ATS not want the Army into the investigations? Scared that the truth will out? Is the Sonia Govt. saying that the Army cannot be trusted and they cannot even be observers in the investigations. Maybe she will be happy with Italian observers?
This is the difference between the civil services and the Army. Even if the Army details a group of Muslim officers to be observers in the investigations they will still be impartial and will seek the truth unlike the civilian officers who will play to His/Her master/mistresses Voice.
The term “Hindutva Terror’ is an insult to 75% of Indians. You are branding a community which has never carried out a 9/11 or a hijack or waged a holy war, but, for political gains you brand them as terrorists.
This is where my rants are proved right. The IAS/IPS has not one officer with moral courage to stand upright and speak the truth. Not one will displease his /her masters even at the cost of selling out the country. Yes, if the Govt. changes many of them may turn approvers and be the proverbial ‘thaali ka baingan’.
@All.
On the lighter side.
I have told my flock that next time we jump lights on Civvy Street and the growling policeman ambles along, blowing awhistle, and asks you whazzup, better not declare the way we used to , ‘ Army Officer’. Chances are that instead of giving you a salaam, he will slam you into a dirty cell in the iddle of the friggin’ night.
As far as the Army’s reactions are concerned, don;t be surprised if some uppity Station COmmander decides to show ‘proactive intitative’ on the subject, and pastes the hapless fellows mugshots on the entrance of the CSD Canteen, proclaiming ‘Not Allowed’, and then claiming to the powers that be that ‘we have stopped giving CSD items to (sic!) suspected terrorists till they are proven innocent.
So much for the feeling of security we had on wearing a uniform.
@Pragmatic
A reputed organisation must say something when they have credible information to back their statements. There are two clear scenarios:-
1. If the ATS is feeding verifiable inputs to the Army; then there must be an official response like you say.
2. If the ATS is not keeping Army in the loop or merely feeding speculative information; then the Army is being pragmatic by staying mum and not allowing itself to be coaxed into the circus ring.
@ voyager
Do you really think the ATS would like to keep the Army in the loop?
The Sadhvi, Pandey and Kulkarni have been charged with the MACOCA on the basis of a shred of supposed evidence that they are seen together at a function. Therefore they are involved. QED. Omar Abdullah is also seen with Pandey, so, why is he also not charged under MACOCA? Sonia G was seen with Quatrochhi so is she involved in the Bofors scam? Mehbooba’s Dad the Mufti traded terrorists for his daughters release. Why is he not charged under POTA?
Something FISHY?
@Voyager #19:
The ATS had a detailed press conference today. The army should also quell these public rumours. It is the reputation of the army that is getting damaged by every passing day, not that of the ATS.
I am not saying that contest the claims or challenge the ATS. Let the law take its own course. I am asking for clearing of the air on the subject. There is too much that is being said and written about it. Another point that you probably missed out on is that this vacuum is filled by the veterans, who only add to the muddle. The silence is thus not helpful in any way to the Army.
@ All,
Indeed, it is getting scarier.
A comment by the brass at Southern Comd stating that they are intimately tracking the happenings, would assuage the feeling of bewilderment which has crept amongst many in the uniform.
Especially as we are not attuned to observe such disrespect of the uniform and those wearing it.
How can the Army wash its hands off the issue! If the guy is indeed what he is accused to be, I am sure Hindu officers will be the first to volunteer to chop his b___s off, but God forbid, if he comes out innocent, or even accused of some minor forgery at the end…
I don’t know, but I visualise the coming generation of army officers will cower before a greasy policeman or even a Jholachaap Patrakar.
We already are seeing officers have started wearing civil pattern jackets over their uniforms, as they pass through a market or ride their bikes.
Do you see this in other armies.
@menon#20
You’re basically saying that its the 2nd scenario (lack of verifiable inputs from ATS). A lot of us feel that way considering the ATS flip-flops and everyday “leaks” based on the uncreditable narco tests. Honestly, even I feel disgusted at the way they are making a tamasha out of it.
Let’s however be unpartisan and understand that the Army doesn’t usually hand over its officers for investigation without at least some prima-facie evidence having been presented. How much or exactly what is the officer’s involvement lies in the realm of speculation/investigation as of now.
I myself had no authoritative facts to conclude eitherway so I just stated the options and left it at that.
@pragmatic #21
On the reputation of ATS not getting damaged, I’d beg to differ. Its a very unprofessional investigation they are carrying out. Unreliable and unadmissible Narco tests seem to be their prime investigative tool and how come a professional setup can not control daily leaks of information? If these are not from internal sources but from speculators, then shouldn’t ATS invoke the law against these sources too? We’re not a banana republic, these are serious issues.
I do agree that the Army’s image has taken a beating but it may suffer even more if they act in haste and end up with contradictions – its a Catch 22 situation. What Army can possibly do is to come out with a press conference on how much information the ATS is sharing with them and vice versa for starters. In case contact has been lost, they can state that too.
Yes, the ESM do add to the muddle with the demi-official appearance of their articles/comments. I did miss that POV completely. Yet, I’d hate to conclude that the lack of a statement is only attributable to organisational lethargy or an ostrich like attitude. I think its more to do with having conclusive and verifiable inputs. Give them the benefit of doubt, they’re not yet past that threshold.
@voyager #23:
I hold no brief for the ATS, but I did hear the ATS chief say on television that disciplinary action has been taken against their own persons who were feeding speculative inputs to the media. Moreover, the PM has called up the leader of the opposition after he made a statement yesterday. I believe this is serious business and every one has to be doubly careful before venturing an opinion on the matter.
I think the army is responding by silence — a dignified silence, but that silence is being filled by noise from other quarters — the veterans (an unfortunate legacy of the proxy front created for the SCPC) and political commentators. So, the silence doesn’t serve the army’s purpose. In the end, the army will have to come out and issue a clear and detailed statement on the matter.
@Pragmatic #24
I agree with you that this is serious business and we must rise above partisan feelings and opportunism. There are larger issues of national integration, religious divide and political bankruptcy looming here and it would be a pity if the accused just become puppets in a different gameplan altogether.
Continuing with the theme, do you think the Army is holding back because the issue has gained centre stage at a national level? Is there a Tehelka like possibility of only the Army officer being hanged and the rest getting away scot free? Is that another consideration delaying the Army making any statement?
The ATS is ham fisted and unprofessional. In the London covert policemen track suspects and arrests are made only when firm evidence is established. Our ATS may be headed by an officer whose profile may have been totally at divergence to his tasks.
In professional organisations suspects are tracked till hard facts are obtained and not taken in to custody so that you make him confess to a concocted crime.
London faces the threat of more terrorist attacks despite increased security in the wake of the deadly July bombings, a senior police chief said in an interview published on Thursday.
If the ATS had been professional then the Sadhvi, Pandey and Purohit would have been under the scanner till a plot is hatched and just before the execution they should have foiled it with substantial proof of involvement. No one would have been able to doubt them. No one could have had a denial stance.
Now, they are resorting to lawyers making ding-dong statements and press leaks.
The ESM are in the fray because the military is muted and cannot make statements unlike the ATS which is putting its foot in its mouth every time it opens it. Poor toes! The ESM thinks and reacts like the Armed forces – the difference being that due to regulations the Armed forces are muted whereas the ESM are now free of the shackles. The sentiments of the ESM should be read by an intelligent analyst as the sentiments of the Military and care should be taken to avoid the powder keg going boom. WE talk of Blue Ribbon Commissions etc. How about a BRC here?
In fact most of our Policemen are unprofessional in tasks outside their domain (many a times even in their domain). In the late ‘70’s/early ‘80’s the Intelligence organisations were seething at the autocratic incision of the IAS/IPS. In fact at that time there were leaflets being distributed in their Lodhi Estate office in New Delhi. Imagine if our premier Intelligence agencies are disgruntled. What dedication will they work with?
I feel a more professional organisation like the IB should probe the case and if the Lt Col s guilty and has shamed the Military then hang him, else hang the ATS and the people who ordered the subversion.
@pragmatic
“the veterans (an unfortunate legacy of the proxy front created for the SCPC)”
IMHO unlikely that the SM have any voluntary truck with ESM at any level, for anything, no Janus or proxy. Elderly, cranky Uncles and Aunties are absolutely not family ( hardly sinister mafia ) in polite, silent, colonial, closed shop SM circles.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/article5195172.ece
now the discussion is moving in a positive manner. the issue is important and needs to be discussed threadbare.
i was watching the TV and a report on headlines today with manoj tewary and someone else. while the entire report was of pragya thakur, and PM speaking to Advani, all the photographs being flashed were of purohit (over 25-30 photos)
don’t read too much into PM assuring advani, it is pure politics (nice movie plot), that’s why plot to kill some RSS leaders also has been thrown in to create dissension and confusion. now i am becoming convinced it is a political plot, and has got nothing to do with terrorism (how the army officer is involved i am not sure). investigation by IB or RAW, well donot get into this false sense of assurance. (after assam blasts every agency climed to have provided inputs – what? there is likely to be a major action in assam. a similar action would have been there last month and the month before that also, it is a routine, sit in front of a map, collate major incidents and make a conclusion. intelligence is not speculation! it is hard facts).
why did the ATS chief issue directions to stop leaks (as if it permitted ) only after the political tide turned. everyone enjoyed it initially, rather added fuel to the fire gleefully. i am just basing my apprehensions on reading of the daily events. even a third rate police inspector will tell u the case has nothing substantive and is based on mere speculation.
coming to narco test. Narco test is not what it is being projected. it is a means to further investigation. even intelligence agencies do not use results of narco test for any basis. it just helps find more links which can be investigated. if u ask a man under sedation have u killed ur mother? and he hates her, 90% cases he will answer in the positive. mostly the person gives single syllable answers or a few phrases or names. if narco test was so successful, most of the criminal cases would have been solved and police would have recommended establishing narco analysis centres in every district. do not believe narco test it means nothing at all.
coming to army’s silence. the evidences presented till now, do not prove anything. but the charge is serious and any statement by the army will influence public opinion one way or the other, so army is doing the only wise option available, that is to keep quiet and let the police do their job and get the bouquets and brickbats.
as i have mentioned earlier, army bashing is one of the most going topics these days, since it gives a lot of pleasure to ppl when they know that the army is also like them. I remember i read a story in CBSE 11th or 12th, where a man reaches a blind colony, and tries to make them understand what is seeing(sight). they think he has some deformity and plan to remove his eyes to make him like them. same is the case with the environment in india. they would feel better when the army turned like them.
the basic reason of imposing MACOCA against these ppl is to hold them till the elections, to prevent any fallouts.
Depp, he has not got a weapon for him on forged papers (forgery is again hearsay). he just got a liscence for him. so don’t feel bad.
while i would not like to lay the blame any one for this fiasco going on, i am forced to think, who would have the ability to such a thing and get away with it. it is for all of u to think. if the aim of apprehending purohit was only for investigation, it could have been done in a more quiet way, he could have been kept with the army, without apprehending (army does not need any permission to detain, not apprehend, him). but as i have said earlier, the aim was publicity (for whatever reason), hence the entire drama.
so, just do not read the news. analyse it in light of the information already available. and in this age of internet such information is available at the click of a mouse. we indians believe more on rumours rather than facts.
@yash #28:
I remember i read a story…
That sir, would be Nunez in The Country of the Blind by HG Wells
regards
Kat,
ur right on the target.
The Country of the Blind by HG Wells
Prag, and others also please read the story – it is interesting as well.
This is what the Maharashtra Police did some time ago–
On 28 November 2006, Mumbai police stated that two Pakistani nationals were involved in the explosions. “We have successfully detected the Malegaon blasts case. We are, however, on the lookout for eight more suspects in the case,” said DGP PS Pasricha. The Anti-Terrorism Squad probing into the case has already arrested eight suspects, including two booked in the July 11 Mumbai serial blasts, in connection with four explosions that rocked the town killing 31 people and injuring more than 200.
Three accused gave a confession before a competent authority about their involvement in the conspiracy but soon thereafter two of them retracted before a magistrate, saying they had not made a voluntary disclosure.
Now —–
Malegaon has been the focus of communal tension for some time, which spilled out into the open in 1984, 1992, and 2001, when there were large scale protest over the US invasion of Afghanistan. Police had killed 12 Muslim protesters after a brief altercation with them. The erstwhile Taliban regime in Afghanistan had enjoyed immense support from Muslims in Malegaon.
If that be so then Lt Col Purohit would have tried some covert operation to ferret intelligence and would ahve contated people in that area.
@Menon #31:
That is pure conjecture. Lt Colonel Purohit is not convicted yet, only charged. Let the law take its own course.
@ Pragmatic #32
What Law ?
@ I agree with Pragmatic that the Army should wake up and respond.
They should respond with the following questions:
Is the Army considered incompetent of being co-opted as observers in the investigations.
Does the Govt have no faith in the Army?
If so, withdraw the Army from the borders and replace them with CPOs/PMFs who will one day talk like the Army.
An investigation proceeding purely based on narco analysis??!!
Narco analysis results at best is a fantazy spelt out, and at worst it is nothing more than a forced confession.
Isn’t it weird that the BHP has spoken out for the Sadhvi whereas the Services have abandoned Purohit.
The Govt of the day is at its election best trying anhhilate its opponents. Even to the extent of trying to create a ham fisted rift by leaking a story about an assaniation plot of RSS leaders. Each one doing it to his enemy – The Congress bringing dishonour to the BJP and the babus doing it to the Armed Forces. The BJP and the Military have been the target of a disinformation and vilification campaign for quite some time and needs to be checked.
On the lighter side Pragmatic has got subject matter for his blogs with each attack.
Every crime has a motive so why did the so alleged mastermind choose Malegaon when other cities have greter strike value? Seems fishy like the Govt trying to soft soap an MP cadre IAS officer so that she rewards them with state support of the large electoral state through her colleagues who would have been told that she is the next Chief Secretary in waiting.
I dont understand why such a fuss is being created by all,withrespect to Lt.Col.purohit’s case.When it is handed over to the Army it deals with it as apropriate as as it deserves.There is no instance where Army man is proved of guilty of charge was ever left un-punished.What did Nehru do in case of Nanvati case,he left the Naval officer.There was hardly any case where a General officer was ever Court Marshalled,earlier.He used to be simply asked to putup his papers and leave the Army.Where as now the General officers also are also never being spared,If the offence is proved.While for the same kind of offence commited by a civilian,officer or a politician,or his son or relatives or his goons no punishment at all.We dont know the reasons for not hanging Afzal guru, in spite of supreme court’s verdict.We also donot know what happend to all those accused, who were sentenced to death in 1993 Bombay blast case. We also do not know the progress of Bangaluru ,Ahemadabad ,and Delhi and other blast cases.This kind of partisan attitude to wards a particular majority community is instigating them to go in for similar acts of retalliation (if at all what the government says is correct of Hindu terrorism).Let the government do not resort to encouraging such acts and bring in gloom to the entire country.Just for few votes of certain community, the ruling party can not hurt the feeling of another (majority) community,by being a silent spectator while they are subjected to the exreme acts of terrorism.The ruling party should know that they will be loosing the votes of majority community.
Even the Pakis know that the Madame has been compromised.
Read here
This Italian Honeypot may be a plant by some vested intelligence agencies. First she gets the Heir entangled, then wipes out the Heir apparent, erases the Mother-inlaw and then her Hubby to finally get to the fortress of power aided by immoral & wily bureaucrats and politicians.
Now she demoralises the Armed Forces.
Now that the ATS leaks are being pooh-pahed, they have now got in the CBI to start leaking.
What is so “mind boggling” about the army keeping mum on the issue of Purohit when the police is investigating the case???
“Purohit said he had been hung upside down from a rod and his hands were tied to two poles due to which he has lost sensation from his wrist to his fingers.”
http://www.zeenews.com/nation/2008-11-25/486296news.html
If these reports are true, then Army should respond immediately!