One more Blueline statistic

Wed, Jul 23 01:25 AM

It was a regular evening that took a rather untoward turn - from models sashaying down the ramp to the gory sight of a young life lost. I was returning to office from an assignment, my mind grappling with various things at the same time - what had been filed, what had to be filed et al.

Suddenly, a huge gathering opposite the Press Club of India caught my attention. My cab driver tried to negotiate the car through the traffic but it was almost impossible.

When I saw a police truck and policemen around, we realised that something was wrong. My photojournalist colleague Raj and I got down to see what had happened.

There lay in the middle of the road the dead body of a young man with barricades around. Blood was splashed around and people were watching his body - discussing the extent of damage, what the blood looked like - like we would discuss a film still.

These people included not just pedestrians but "upmarket" city people who had stopped their cars to watch. The traffic policeman was trying to clear the crowd.

"Bus ne kuchal deeya hai, aadhe ghante se yahi pada hai," he told me. I asked a man why no one cared to call an ambulance.

"Kya faayda, zinda ho to bulalye, saans baaki nahi to kisi ko kya bulana," said a man, craning his neck to catch the sight. Five minutes later, more cops arrived and they wrapped the body in a sheet and put it in the truck.

Dressed in a white shirt with huge blood stains, his slingbag slipping out of the sheet, the young man disappeared into the vehicle. The crowd soon dispersed.

The show was over. "Ek aur kuchal deeya bus ne," said a fruitseller as business went on as usual for him.

And I realised that the victim was just another statistic of Blueline rage. I also realised that my city is city of silent spectators.

Or should I say, callous spectators.

Inside News

Editor's picks