Shocking incident in Bangalore, India

Before you travel to India, do make sure you're safe, especially if
you're a woman. I am an Indian and am ashamed to say that our own
police turns against it's own citizens.

This article was published in the Deccan Herald, one of India's leading
dailies today. Do read and be careful if you're near a railway station
towards the night, especially if you're a woman.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nimish Adani
Date: Oct 3, 2005 9:37 PM
Subject: [IIML] brutalities in bangalore
To: IIML


Hi!

I would like to bring to notice a certain injustice that I have
subjected to at the Bangalore Railway Station (Majestic). On September
30 (Friday), 2005, I had been to the station to see off my fiance and
her mother. They took the Karnataka Express (Train #2627) to Jhansi at
6:30 pm.

On my way out I was asked to present my platform ticket by a railway
official. On producing the same, the TT turned around and told me
"What if I say that you haven't given me the ticket?" Before I could
react, he along with his colleague pushed me into the adjacent enquiry
cabin and physically manhandled me. I was slapped several times, my
spectacles were grabbed and deliberately crushed by foot, and my phone
was flung away from me. The RPF comprising of one RPF and four
constables, appeared on the scene. The surrounding public was whisked
away. None of the railway police officials cared to listen to me and
they started hitting me indiscriminately with lathis. They dragged me
out, and all the 4 constables continued hitting me with lathis from
Platform 1 to Platform 3/5, till we reached the station master's
cabin. Racist abuses and threats were made on the way. At the station
master's cabin, I was told that I have been charged with a
non-bailable offence and would be behind bars for 15 days.

Not for a single moment was I allowed to speak. All of a sudden a
stranger came to the scene and he claimed that he was there to help
me. Having lost all my physical strength and mental senses, I was
happy to see some sort of help. He, claiming to be V Srinivas from
Infosys, talked to the officials and the railway police in Kannada. He
told me that the only way I was to get out was if I was willing to pay
my way through. Being in no state to make a rational choice, I gave
him my ATM card and pin. He took one of the RPF chaps along with him
and said he would clear the matter. He returned some time later saying
that everything was okay now.

I was asked to sign a statement which said that I hit the police and
TT in a drunken state. I refused. Finally, they pressurized me to
write that I did not produce a platform ticket when asked. I wrote the
same and then V Srinivas took me out of the station. He joined me in
an auto and took me to the ICICI ATM at Anand Rao circle. He withdrew
Rs. 15000 from my ATM and got back. he took the cash under the pretext
that while helping me he had left his wallet in the train he had left
behind and that he would return the same through his ICICI Internet
account. Having broken down mentally I did not realise that I was
being cheated. He then took me to a Samsung showroom and tried
purchasing a cellphone worth Rs. 18500 with my card. It was only then
that I realised what was happening. I grabbed my card back, caught him
by the collar, snatched my cash that lay in his pocket, and got into a
running auto.

I have now realized that all of this was a plan. There is a strong
nexus between the railway officials, the railway police and the
fraudster. The railway officials identify a victim who they think is
well-to-do, the RPF beat that individual till he has no physical or
mental well-being. Then this fraud chap comes on to the scene, takes
advantage of the situation, and takes all your cash away. Also, this
series of events generally occurs on the last day of the month as they
know that the salary gets credited on this day. (This strikes me now
because the self-proclaimed Infy employee, V Srinivas, clearly asked
me whether I had received my salary. He said that he just wanted to
find out if there was cash enough to tackle the case.)

Now three days hence, I have tried to run from pillar to post. I have
been forced to miss office hours in my effort to get justice. But I
don't want to give up the fight midway. If any of you are in the
media, or have friends/relatives who are in the industry, I'd like to
speak with them about this in greater detail. I can be reached on
09886179319 or 08030933067. I believe it would catalyze my efforts.

Also, please pass this email to all the people who reside in
Bangalore, so that they don't fall into the same trap.

Regards,
Nimish V Adani
IIML Batch of 2003
ITBHU Batch of 2001
________________________________