For nearly a decade now, I have been employed in a civil organization, that afforded me a close-up view of our law and order system. Sometimes, the most effective way to convey the intricacies of such a system is through a true and poignant story.
Just two days following Diwali this year, tragedy struck in a big town in UP. A 27-year-old young man, riding his scooter to the market at approximately 9 PM, fell victim to a reckless driver in a formidable SUV, a Fortuner. The collision was forceful, resulting in the untimely death of the young man. In a distressing turn of events, the SUV callously fled the scene, leaving behind a community grappling with grief.
Despite the scarcity of traffic at that hour, the bystanders were unable to capture the vehicle's license plate. However, providence intervened as the young man's friends stumbled upon the broken number plate at the roadside. Remarkably, the owner of the vehicle resided in the same colony, and with the aid of the recovered number plate, the vehicle was swiftly traced. Attempts had been made to conceal the damages, but under community pressure, the covers were removed, unequivocally identifying the vehicle responsible for the tragedy.
This is where the harsh reality of a common man's plight in India unfolds. The owner of a Fortuner, valued at around 50 lakhs, inevitably wields influence. Consequently, the police neither filed the FIR nor seized the vehicle initially. Following a protracted struggle of about 4-5 days, the common man's plea reached someone influential, prompting a belated filing of the FIR. However, the accused now presented was a hapless driver who wasn't even present in the vehicle during the incident.
It is apparent that the destitute driver had likely been compensated and assured of a swift release. This narrative imparts several sobering lessons:
- Money can be wielded to manipulate evidence and influence law enforcement.
- Financial resources can secure the services of the best legal representation in the country.
- In the absence of legally robust evidence, the accused may go free.
- The circulation of money perpetuates a nexus involving corruption within the police force, legal practitioners, judges, politicians, and bureaucrats.
- Silence from the populace allows this circle of influence to thrive, ultimately leading to the common man's suffering. Today, a grieving mother bore the weight of her son's loss, while the affluent, inebriated driver evaded justice. Tomorrow, any one of us, our children, or our loved ones may fall victim to this insidious cycle, highlighting the urgency for change.