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Monthly Archives: January 2012

Cannot face his truth? Stoop to slander !! – The classic troll tactic !!!

31 Tuesday Jan 2012

Posted by Nilim Dutta in Rebuttal

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

False allegations, Letters to the Editor, Nilim Dutta, Rebuttal, The Sentinel

There is a price for speaking unpleasant truth. There is also always a price for standing up to prejudice and intolerance. Slander is one of those. If my truth and logic cannot be demolished, those have to be attempted to be discredited by insidious character assassination and slander. Such attempts shall not only be responded to with contempt, but every lie shall be categorically demolished. Like I shall do now with one such slanderous allegation right here.

For some time, a ‘Letter to the Editor’ to one of Assam’s premier English dailies, ‘The Sentinel’ bringing some patently false and outrageous allegations against me has become the cause célèbre for a certain kind of twitterati – they are almost always anonymous (using assumed handles which are not real identities); they prostrate before a certain ‘God’ who hopes to be PM; they consistently bait Muslims; and among their other more laudable traits are threat of ‘rape’ to young Muslim women who would disagree or disregard their rants (Yes, screenshots and urls of those tweets have been meticulously kept ready).

So what is it they are so ecstatic about tweeting to the world against me? Let me quote the entire letter below, word-for-word.

The Sentinel, 3rd August, 2010, Tuesday – Letters to the Editor

About ‘Commendable Initiative’

We offer our sincere thanks to Aiyushman Dutta for his write-up ‘‘Commendable Initiative’’ (The Sentinel, July 24, 2010). Mr Dutta has done a great service for the trust in publicly establishing the existence of ‘‘every single original print of Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya’s short stories published since 1937’’ at one place.

Mr Dutta has not asked as to how the same were collected by Nilim Dutta of the so-called Strategic Research and Analysis Organization in his “Commendable Initiative”.

It should now be known to one and all that the said collection was an act of fraud by Nilim Dutta, who had approached Srimati Binita Bhattacharyya, wife of Late Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya, with a written request for permission to publish a collection of short stories. He visited her house with a laptop and a scanner on several occasions. He listed the said short stories and lifted them all to be taken home for digitalization. These were never returned. His collections included said photographs, letters et al, including many important documents which probably we do not know. Then he came up with an agreement and offered a sum of Rs 20,000 as advance payment.

Smti Bhattacharyya in all good faith wanted to accept his proposal. The cheque bounced with the bank’s comment — “funds insufficient”. These were before the Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya Memorial Trust came into being.

Smti Bhattacharyya intimated her decision to cancel the agreement by a registered post communication of January 20, 2008 and asked him to contact the Trust only, if so desired, for the intended publication. The letter came back with the postal remark — ‘‘not known’’. Nilim Dutta never showed his face to Smti Bhattacharyya thereafter, and now as Aiyushman Dutta has revealed, gloats over his ‘‘commendable initiative’’.

We thank Aiyushman Dutta for giving the trust a handle to make a move either with police help or through the appropriate legal authority. We possess the initial letters and copies of the said agreement along with the bounced cheque, if Aiyushman Dutta would like to go through them and see how the “commendable initiative” he has highlighted is fraught with blatant fraud.

Dr Dipankar Bhattacharyya,

Secretary,

Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya Memorial Trust, Guwahati.

Click this here to go to The Sentinel webpage.  

So, what is the truth behind these allegations?

Before I demolish them as entirely fabricated and malicious lies, let me give a small background which would add more perspective.

Dr. Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya was one of the most eminent Indian authors who have left Assamese literature immeasurably enriched. Most know him for his novels ‘Yaruingam’ (for which he was awarded the Sahitya Akademi Award for 1961) and ‘Mrityunjay’ (for which he was awarded the Janapith Award in 1979). But his literary and intellectual legacy is vast, in fiction, non-fiction and verses and must be discussed some other time. He was also a prolific writer of Assamese short stories. Even though he had passed away in 1997, even now, fifteen years later, a single anthology which included the entire body of short stories he had written had been published.

It was, however, in 2006 that I received a proposal, through intermediaries, to consider publishing such an anthology. After initial discussions, I sent late Dr. Bhattacharyya’s wife, Smti. Binita Bhattacharyya a draft proposal which she approved. Accordingly, a copyright license agreement was signed with her 27th July, 2007. Problem however arose immediately as there was not even a complete list of short stories, let alone the content of all of them. More over, questions of whether she actually owns copyrights of those arose immediately as most of the stories which we were given were actually published in a pathbreaking magazine (Ramdhenu) in which Dr. Bhattacharyya was employed as an Editor, hence copyright for his stories belonging to the publisher/owner of the magazine. To cut a long story short, the agreement never came into force. Instead, we had to begin searching for the stories. As we searched, we realized that late Dr. Bhattacharyya’s family possessed only a fraction of what he had written during his lifetime. Even valuable documents, like citations, were decomposing. Partially out of concern for the preservation of this rich literary heritage, and partially out of respect for Smti. Binita Bhattacharyya’s insistence, we indexed and digitized some of the valuable documents, original prints etc in her possession in-situ completely at our own expense. Only a few large ones which couldn’t be digitized there were taken away from her, with due receipts, and again returned. Naturally, as per procedure, we obtained signed receipts from her when such material was safely returned to her.

On the 14th of October, 2007, on late Dr. Bhattacharyya’s 83rd birth anniversary, Strategic Research & Analysis Organisation made a public announcement of it’s efforts at preserving his literary legacy. The function was attended by many literary stalwarts of the state and we were greatly applauded for the initiative. Significantly, the function was presided over by late Dr. Bhattacharyya’s elder brother, Shri Nalinidhar Bhattacharyya, another eminent poet as well as by eminent author Shri Atulananda Goswami and Journalists Radhikamohan Bhagawati. I mention their names because they are trustees of Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya Memorial Trust. Also present were all family members of late Dr. Bhattacharyya. Surprisingly, none had any complaints about what we were doing. Instead, we were appreciated for the effort.

There was one person who was too busy to attend this function. That person was Dr. Dipankar Bhattacharyya. He is late Dr. Bhattacharyya’s eldest son.

The anthology never materialized because of copyright entanglements.

Let me now come to Dipankar Bhattacharyya’s allegations.

Dipankar Bhattacharyya’s allegation:

Then he came up with an agreement and offered a sum of Rs 20,000 as advance payment.

Smti Bhattacharyya in all good faith wanted to accept his proposal. The cheque bounced with the bank’s comment — “funds insufficient”. These were before the Dr Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya Memorial Trust came into being.

My rebuttal:

The agreement, as explained above, never became operational because Smti. Bhattacharyya couldn’t provide the full list of stories, nor could she prove ownership of copyright of all the stroies. It was indeed incumbent upon Smti. Bhattacharyya, to return the cheque. Could Dipankar Bhattacharyya explain why were they trying to fraudulently sell copyright of matter they didn’t own? And when the agreement fell through, why wasn’t the cheque returned? (There is a lot more dirty linen that I could wash in public but desist from doing so out of regard for late Dr. Bhattacharyya and Smti. Binita Bhattacharyya)

Dipankar Bhattacharyaa’s allegation:

Smti Bhattacharyya intimated her decision to cancel the agreement by a registered post communication of January 20, 2008 and asked him to contact the Trust only, if so desired, for the intended publication. The letter came back with the postal remark — ‘‘not known’’.

 My rebuttal:

I produce below the copy of the very letter Dipankar Bhattacharyya claims was never delivered to me (inference being, I provided false address) and returned with post mark ‘not known’ received by me on 19th march 2008.

Could Dipankar Bhattacharyya please explain which genie delivered that letter to me?

He of course conveniently fails to mention that he even knew my residence.

Also, to be noted there is no mention of ‘bounced’ cheques in the letter below.

Dipankar Bhattacharyaa’s allegation:

He listed the said short stories and lifted them all to be taken home for digitalization. These were never returned. His collections included said photographs, letters et al, including many important documents which probably we do not know.

Nilim Dutta never showed his face to Smti Bhattacharyya thereafter.

My rebuttal:

On the evening of 23rd March 2008, I paid a visit to Smti. Binita Bhattacharyya once again, accompanied by my mother and sister, when I returned her a few newspaper broadsheets containing articles written by Dr. Bhattacharyya which I had taken away from her as they couldn’t be scanned ‘on-site’. Since all objects and articles that were ever given by Smti. Bhattacharyya to us had thus been returned, I obtained the mandatory receipt of the same wherein she stated –

“I do hereby acknowledge that all articles, including books, documents, photographs etc belonging to late Birendra Kumar Bhattacharyya that I had lent to Shri Nilim Dutta of the Strategic Research & Analysis Organisation from my own personal collection have been duly returned to me.”

As usual, we chatted over tea and Smti. Bhattacharyya apologized for her inability to return me the cheque because “Dipankar had retained it with him” but promised to have it sent to me later. We are still waiting.

Copy of the signed receipt is provided below.

All of the above rebuttals along with the supporting documents were emailed to the editor of The Sentinel from my official email on 7th August 2010 at 10:22 hours. Strangely, the rebuttal is nowhere to be found on the website now (Is there more to it than meets the eye?).

Dipankar Bhattacharyya acted intemperately. Made patently false allegations to slander. Naturally, whatever the consequences, he shall face those.

At the end, I have only this much to say:

Truth always has the strength to stand on its own.

Lies, however, still remain lies, even if tweeted 24×7 by cowards who don’t even have the courage to tweet using their own names.

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Brutal Souls of Our Protectors !!

20 Friday Jan 2012

Posted by Nilim Dutta in Law Enforcement, Opinion

≈ 17 Comments

Tags

Armed Forces Special Powers Act, Border Security Force, Cattle Smuggler, Indo-Bangladesh border, Murshidabad, South Bengal Frontier HQ, torture, West Bengal

There are many things about our men in uniform, be it in the ‘armed forces’, paramilitary forces or the police, we could actually be proud of. These shouldn’t, however, be cited to hide, or worse, justify, many other things which are appalling and deeply offensive.

I have observed India’s Border Security Force (henceforth BSF) in ‘border protection’ (particularly in Assam-Meghalaya Frontier HQ stretch of the Indo-Bangladesh border) as well as ‘counter-insurgency’ deployment since 1996. This is long enough to have an admiration for the conduct of its officers and men in discharging the duties the nation has entrusted to them, honourably, even under difficult situations.

It was for this admiration I have that I chose to share some insights on their life in the Indo-Bangladesh border through my photo essay on 10 September, 2011 A Glimpse of the Indo-Bangladesh Border and the Sentinels.

This admiration, however, doesn’t make me blind to the disturbing allegations and dark rumours that I have inevitably come to learn about, not infrequently, in course of such a long association.

For instance, it is a fact that there is a huge cross-border illicit trade in cattle and commodities, where these are smuggled out of India into Bangladesh, whether it is over land or riverine borders. The allegations are not just about the BSF being slack and unable to prevent such illicit trade but actually profiting from it. Then of course are rumours of brutality. It is indeed a fact that casualties due to BSF firing on the Bangladeshi side (either of smuggler or infiltrators, as always claimed by the BSF) has been an issue serious enough to be not only discussed in flag meetings but to be addressed by even Ministerial representatives of both countries.

How true could such rumours of brutalities be? The video embedded below categorically substantiates the kind of violations that are perhaps not infrequent. Whereas the entire approximately 12 minute long video is deeply disturbing, the part between 7-12 minutes would make many squeamish at the realization of what kind of torture could be committed on a prisoner in hands of our soldiers. That the Inspector General of BSF, South Bengal Frontier HQ in whose jurisdiction Murshidabad lies (where the incident had reportedly occurred), has accepted responsibility and suspended eight of the soldiers found involved, pending inquiry, leaves no ground for even suggesting that the video is not authentic.

Now that you have watched this deeply offensive act of the BSF soldiers, let me put in perspective what should be so deeply worrisome.

First, the victim of such brutal torture was perhaps a Bangladeshi cattle smuggler who appears to have been tortured not for smuggling but for refusing or failing to pay the requisite ‘bribe’ for safe passage. Can one imagine what may happen to someone picked up as a suspected militant?

Second, these were just eight men out of approximately quarter of a million serving in the BSF. Isn’t it entirely likely that there would be many more if one manages to learn of all the violations that have occurred? This wasn’t an isolated incident. BSF deployments in counter insurgency operations in Jammu & Kashmir and the North East is testimony to that.

Third, Murshidabad is in Poschim Banga (West Bengal) which is neither a ‘disturbed area’ nor under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). BSF soldiers don’t enjoy any special protection for torture or rights violations against civilians there. Yet such violations can still occur. We are assuming the victim to be Bangladeshi, but it can happen to an Indian villager as well. Not such brutal torture, but assault or manhandling of villagers, who have to go across the border fence to cultivate, over petty disputes or altercations is rampant. Can one imagine torture, custodial killings, fake encounters or even rapes being impossible in hands of at least some such brutal men in uniform, particularly when AFSPA accords them immunity in places like Jammu & Kashmir or the North East?

Fourth, ‘suspension’ is not punishment and in all likelihood, if the torture hadn’t been been captured in video and posted on YouTube provoking a furore, even this wouldn’t have been done. Whether those involved are actually prosecuted and punished remains to be seen.

Fifth, mere dismissal and imprisonment of sundry ‘jawans’ for crimes such as torture or custodial killings won’t amount to an effective deterrence. The forces are aware of the ‘code of conduct’ towards civilians and any violation to that is a failure of command. Unless ways and means for holding ‘commanders’ accountable for any erosion or violation in the code of conduct and penalizing them through effective instruments is not institutionalized, the brutal ‘inclinations’ of India’s security forces are unlikely to change. I say so from numerous occasions I had observed the same men behave in distinctly different ways under the command of different officers.

A nation needs to believe its soldiers to be heroic souls who are gallant and willing to lay down their lives in supreme sacrifices. Soldiers, who torture, kill or maim even innocent civilians, or rape women at gunpoint, denigrate the honour of our martyrs and many who serve the nation in uniform with honour and pride. For those who tarnish that honour and pride, there must not be anything but our collective wrath.

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Bare Statistics of Crimes Against Women in Andhra Pradesh and Delhi : A few questions to the Police Chiefs

09 Monday Jan 2012

Posted by Nilim Dutta in Law Enforcement, Opinion

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Andhra Pradesh, Crime against women, Delhi, Delhi Police Commissioner, Director general of Police, Eve teasing, Law Enforcement, Molestation, National Crime Records bureau, Rape, Sexual harassment

Andhra Pradesh and Delhi have a special place in annals of crimes against women in India in recent times. If we are to take a look at the statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau, Andhra Pradesh has figured consistently in 2008, 2009 and 2010 as the state with highest incidences of crime against women; and Delhi, similarly has figured as the city with highest incidences of crime against women in the years 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Let me restate the figures and illustrate just a few preliminary findings.

Andhra Pradesh: Collated statistics for 2008-2010

A total of 76, 924 incidents of crime against women have been recorded from 2008-2010. This is the highest in India for a state and Andhra Pradesh topped this dubious list each consecutive year for three years till 2010. 2011 statistics are awaited.

As per categories of crime, crime against women constitutes the second or third largest category in crimes in Andhra Pradesh.

A total of 3,807 cases of rape have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 4.94% of total incidence of crime against women.

A total of 14,511 cases of molestation have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 18.86% of total incidence of crime against women.

A total of 11,633 cases of sexual harassment (eve-teasing) have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 15.12% of total incidence of crime against women.

Rapes, molestations and sexual harassment (eve-teasing) constituted 38.93% of crimes against women in Andhra Pradesh in 2008-2010.

Women in the age group of 18-30 years were most vulnerable to rape, followed by the women in age group of 14-18 years.

In all the 3,807 rape cases that had been recorded in Andhra Pradesh between 2008-2010, the offenders were known to the victims.

On an average, at least 3 incidences of rape had occurred daily in Andhra Pradesh in the period between 2008-2010 and 100% of the rapes were committed by men who were known to the victims.

Delhi: Collated statistics for 2008-2010

A total of 11, 102 incidents of crime against women have been recorded from 2008-2010. This is the highest in India for a city and Delhi topped this dubious list each consecutive year for three years till 2010. 2011 statistics are awaited.

 A total of 1,214 cases of rape have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 10.93% of total incidence of crime against women.

A total of 1,574 cases of molestation have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 14.17% of total incidence of crime against women.

A total of 309 cases of sexual harassment (eve-teasing) have been recorded for the same period, which constitutes 2.7% of total incidence of crime against women.

Rapes, molestations and sexual harassment (eve-teasing) constituted 27.89% of crimes against women in Delhi in 2008-2010.

Women in the age group of 14-18 years were most vulnerable to rape, followed by the women in age group of 18-30 years.

In the 1,214 rape cases that had been recorded in Delhi between 2008-2010, 97.44% of the offenders were known to the victims.

On an average, at least 1 incident of rape had occurred daily in Delhi in the period between 2008-2010 and 97.44% of the rapes were committed by men who were known to the victims.

My questions to the Police Chiefs of Andhra Pradesh and Delhi :

Does the Delhi Police Commissioner know what factors made the women victims of rape, molestation or sexual harassment most vulnerable? What were the circumstances in which most of these crimes had occurred? Which police station areas have the highest incidences of these crimes?

Has he taken a look at each investigation report of rape, molestation and sexual harassment and enlightened himself as to what time of day or night each incident had occurred? How relevant was his assumption that women were vulnerable late at night and outside homes or offices?

Can the Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police answer the same questions I have asked above in context of Andhra Pradesh?

Has he taken a look at each investigation report of rape, molestation and sexual harassment and enlightened himself as to what each victim was wearing when the crime had been committed to claim provocative ‘dresses’ worn by women were the cause of rapes?

The Indian Police Service is supposed to be constituted by the crème of India’s educated and intelligent elite. I would, therefore, like to believe that there are still men and women in that Khaki uniform whose gray matter have not atrophied and have the intelligence, inclination, ability, will and the resources to find some answers and apply their mind to find more effective measures within the purview of law enforcement to bring down rates of crime against women substantially.

As to Police Chiefs whose gray matter seem to have atrophied and the dignity of the office seem to be lost on them, the best way to sensitize would be summary removal from the post of Police Chief and immediate supersession.

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