Conviction of rapist- cum- anarchist Ram Rahim, sentenced for 20 years of isolated confinement with rigorous imprisonment, is a classic example for a case study of politico- bureaucratic – police nexus leading to mayhem, incendiarism, killings in Haryana, Panjab, UP, Rajasthan and Delhi with large concentration of deras.Fine of Rs 30 lakhs to be divided between two aggrieved girls. He is convicted 15 years after rape complaint filed in 2002. Thanks to covert support by successive governments in Haryana and Centre by way of en bloc voting by Dera followers.
Demand for converting 20 years RI to Life imprisonment is growing. A large cache of illegal arms, ammunition, hand grades, AK 47, petrol bombs etc was recovered from his “ ashram “ ,an euphemism for a 5-star guest house.
Out of several DGs, Addl DGs, IGs in Haryana police, it is shocking that not a single top officer cared to visit Ground Zero.Not worth their salt. Later, in the day, one IG was seen on TV getting updated by a DySP . SIs and constables galore.
Bureaucracy proved worthless, glued to seats. Chief Secy, Addl Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries- all failed to take pro-active steps to avoid flare-up.A collective failure of appointed Executive in collusion with the elected Executive. Tackling emergency to diffuse anarchy lay within domain of permanent bureaucracy. Why were they awaiting orders from CM and his council of loose cannons .
The extent of Executive culpability must be assessed. Haryana &Panjab High court -monitored investigation by the CBI is needed. Based on its findings, FIRs must be filed by CBI against flagrante delicto andcharges approved by high court.
The larger question crying for attention is : Why permit self- styled Godmen have private armies. Let us take the discussion further,
It will be foolhardy to assume that Indian intelligence and security agencies were oblivious to this fact. We refused to learn from history and history repeated itself with vengeance.
Recall some infamous Babas and Godmen who owned huge private armies..
Bhindrawale? Too well known to need a recall.
Asaram Bapu and his son had battalion of armed sevadars. Both are presently cooling their heals in jails. Asaram’s appeal for bail invited the wrath of Supreme court in its hearing on August 28,2017.
Recall Sant Rampal whose army of 8000 goons had stored sophisticated weapons, acid tankers, hand grenades, petrol bombs etc to wage a war against the State to shield their Guru. Followers were in no mood to let their guru arrested.Police was shocked to discover large cache
of arms and ammunitions.The guru finally surrendered.
Megalomaniac Ram Rahim, sentenced for 20 years of isolated confinement with rigorous imprisonement by the CBI court on Aug 28,2017, had an army of commanders, sub-commanders and 15,000 armed commandos .All trained by ex- armymen hired on payment of fat salaries.
Furthermore, arguments in cases of alleged murders of two journalist-whistleblowers,are likely to be finalised in CBI court on Sept 15,2017. Solid evidences. Death penalty is for sure.
Caste-based private militias
There are a large number of caste-based armed militias,mostly thriving in Bihar and UP, who raise their heads to kill members of the lower or rival castes.Take a look at them..
Ram Varishka Yadav
Swadheen Bharat Subhash Sena led by one late Ram Varishka Yadav. His army of Yadav clan unauthorisedly occupied 220 acres Jawahar Bagh Park in Mathura UP. With massive cache of arms, ammunitions, AK47, the private army of 3,000 gave stiff resistance to para-miltary forces before final eviction. SP govt under pressure of Yadav clan, did not take action Ranvir Sena
An upper-caste landlord militia in Bihar, for protecting the rights of the Bhumihar, against “ domination “of the Rajputs.
Besides above , there are several other Senas, fronts, morchas in Bihar owing allegiance to their castes. All have armed militias. Bihar had about a dozen private militia groups belonging to different castes and sub-groups who used to terrorise people in the name of protecting rights of their particular caste or group.While some have been wiped out, others become active during elections.
Are Private Militias legal? Are these not a threat to national security?
Private armies of self-styled godmen and caste-based organisations have no place in indian democracy. They indulge in mis-adventurism to browbeat courts, State and the public.A serious threat.
If, there are no rules, PM Modi must consider introducing a Bill in Parliament for banning private militias in private hands.