Indian girl's one-rupee suicide

Half of India's children are malnourished, a UN report says

A 12-year-old Indian girl committed suicide after her mother told her she could not afford one rupee - one-fifth of a US cent - for a school meal.

Sania Khatun lived with her mother in a village north of Calcutta under a tarpaulin sheet provided by the state.

Sania normally ate nothing at school but on Friday saw classmates eating rice and asked for one rupee.

Her mother scolded her and when she returned from work found her daughter hanged from the ceiling with a sari.

"She wanted just one rupee... but her mother could not give her the money due to poverty," government official Nakul Chandran Mahato told the Reuters agency.

'Snapped'

The mother, Jainab Bewar, is a widow who works as a maid in the village of Paraspur, 200km (125 miles) north of Calcutta.

She normally fed her daughter with food she could get from the houses she worked in.

India's Telegraph newspaper said Sania was tempted by the sight of classmates eating puffed rice and oil cakes.

Ms Bewar told the newspaper: "I did not give her the money as I did not have it. I snapped at her when she insisted on it."

She and her sons never earn more than $13 a month combined, she says.

India has seen unprecedented economic growth in recent years but many remain untouched by the improvements.

A recent UN report said half of India's children were still malnourished.

Israelis fined for kissing

Ajmer, Sept. 20 (PTI): A local court today fined an Israeli couple who had been arrested for kissing in public at Pushkar ghat.

The judicial magistrate court at Pushkar slapped a fine of Rs 500 each on Alone and Selev who, according to the court, had “committed an act of indecency” by kissing in public after their marriage.

The Pushkar Purohit Sangh had lodged a complaint with police on September 6, alleging they had hurt “Hindu sentiments” by kissing in front of other devotees in a “semi-naked condition” soon after their marriage was solemnised.

The police had registered a case against the couple under Section 294 of the IPC and arrested them. They were later released on bail on personal bonds.

The couple in their written statement filed yesterday, said though they got married according to Hindu rituals, they kissed following their own culture.

Saying they were unaware that kissing in public was “prohibited in India”, the couple denied that they were in a “semi-naked” condition at the time of marriage.

Sipra Deb's email to NRI press on Feb. 25, 2005

UK NRI, Mr. Protul Deb kidnapped in Assam on the 17th of March 2004 and to date remains missing without trace

Daughter, Shipra Deb appeals to kidnappers by showing her father's picture

UK, Feb. 25, 2005
DR Sipra Deb (daughter)

My father Protul Deb was kidnapped in assam on the 17th of March 2004 and to date remains missing without trace. I went to India in October last year to bring focus on this case which has become an international matter because we are all British citizens and my dad was a British resident.

Its now nearly 11 months and still there is no sign of him. My family in England are desperate and my mother is very sick. How can we continue to suffer like this and no-one will do anything to help?

I wanted to update you on happenings and to publicly voice my concerns about an injustice that is shrouded in mystery and smacks of corruption and collution; the lack of progress in this case has made me realise that it is time for me to break my silence and ask the difficult questions clearly and openly.

The last 11 months have been the most terrible, saddening and frustrating in my life. My father has been missing without trace. He is old frail man who is a British Resident for 20 years and now suffers with a heart condition. His family (wife and three daughters all British citizens) are at their wits end here and are tired and defeated with each passing day. No amount of pressure on the British and Indian governments have resulted in any clues or progress. Last October I came to India accompanied by two British Police Officers from South Yorkshire Police to find out where my father was and find out what I had to do to get him back. This trip was one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life and I was constantly faced with the possibility that my father would never return and we would never know what happened to him! However, after a tramatic and super human effort amidst huge media presence resulted in the Indian Government back tracking and accepting that this case should be dealt with. Accordingly the Chief Minister of Assam promised that our suffering would soon be at an end and a CBI enquiry would now commence. I returned from India full of hopes that at last I had done everything possible to raise the profile of my fathers case and I had returned with a promise from the indian Government and Assam government in particular that an enquiry by their elite security agency the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) would now occur.

Since my return which was 4 months ago, no such enquiry has started and I am now forced to ask some very difficult questions.

• Why has the promise of Chief Minister of Assam, Mr Tarun Gogoi come to nothing?
• What has the Assam Government got to hide?
• Is the Chief Minister of Assam protecting certain members of his cabinet and political party?
  
  I have a copy of a letter written by my father to the Chief Minister asking for his security personnel to be reinstated just prior to his abduction, in which he eerily forecast his own disappearance . In it he writes " I am afraid that my life is under threat and I am in danger from extremist terrorist groups who are trying to abduct me on the say so of a member of your cabinet"
  
  When I asked the Chief Minister about this, he claims he never received the letter!!
  As a result of my meeting with him, he promised that "as a mans life hangs in the balance" the process of the enquiry would be expedited immediately. Why then has The Assam Government delayed permission for such an enquiry to start?
• Why is the clearance for the enquiry not forthcoming from Assam? I have it on good authority from officials in the Indian Ministry of Home Affairs and from the CBI that they are yet to receive clearance from Assam to proceed with this case.
• Who is stopping the enquiry from going ahead?
  
  One of Assam's foremost Ministers is my Maternal Uncle Gautam Roy. Why has he not helped his sister find her Husband? Why has he put his political interests first instead of his family? What has he got to loose by such an enquiry? Is he protecting himself and/or his family?
  
  Mr Gautam Roy has a Son, Mr Rahul Roy who was involved in the same Bamboo business that my father was a part of. When one of the motives for his disappearance was business rivalry and all other bamboo merchants have been previously arrested and questioned, why was Mr Rahul Roy left out and never questioned?
  
  When my mother and I were in India in connection with my fathers disappearance, we informed the police about threats received from Mr Rahul Roy and his associates, why did the police never take any action?
  
  When the police were given information that related to the involvement of certain bamboo merchants (including Mr Rahul Roy) in instructing extremist groups from various sources, the police claimed they were unable to proceed without evidence, yet a few months later on Mr Roy's instructions, these merchants were arrested! Yet again no one from the Roy family was questioned.
  
  The Superintendent of Police (SP Dutta) in charge of the case was put under extrem pressure to prevent him giving information to the family and was given 24hr notice to transfer mysteriously to a different location when the news reached that I was coming to India to pursue the case. Why was this? Why was he warned against giving me information?
• Why were the statements held by the police given by key witnesses never witnessed by a magistrate? Why were these statements different to statements that I have from the same witnesses?
• Where are the 4 kidnappers who were arrested? Who did they represent and why were they freed without trial?
• Why do the police now claim that the United Liberation of Barak Valley does not exist even though they were the ones that first told us that this was the group involved?
• What about the 12 other people arrested in connection with the case? What happened to their statements and what action was taken?
• Why did the police state that the Incident report was not logged till three months after his disappearance when I know this to be false as I was there 4 days after my father disappeared!!!
• Why do the police insist they played no part in me paying money to the kidnappers when they advised me to do so and were with me when this happened? Why do they deny everything and then the Chief Minister tells me that he knew the police were there with me when money was being handed over? Who is telling the truth and why are so many people running scared?
• Who is controlling criminal investigations? The police or the politicians??......
  
  In the past 4 years since my father has had links with Assam, his life was made a living hell by Mr Gautam Roy and his direct family were persecuted with various forms of torture as a result of my father taking an interest in politics. When we look for motives as to my fathers disappearance we cannot ignore this line, yet no action or questions have ever been pursued relating to this matter.
  
  
• Why is there such a bias in the investigation?
• What do the Roy family know about my fathers disappearance?
• Can it be that my father disappeared into thin air and no one around knows what happened?
• I refuse to believe that !! Many people know and are under pressure not to say. Who are they afraid of?
• Why despite a high court case and huge pressure from the international community does my father still remain missing with no-one held accountable?
  
  I do not believe that I will never find the truth. It is unacceptable that this matter continues to be ignored. MY family will never accept that my father has disappeared without trace.
  
  These questions need to be asked and someone must give answers. Assam is in disgrace among the International Indian community and everyone here thinks it is a place of lawlessness and a place where corrupt officials and politicians alike run the state for personal gain rather than the good of the people. Civilisation seems not to have reached there and noone seems to be able to voice their fears or stand up and have a say because of the consequenses they might face.
  
  I am being asked to "FORGET I HAVE A FATHER". I will never do that! I want and demand justice in the name of my father, my family and humanity.
  
  I hope to visit India next month again to pursue my cause and to find the answers to these questions. Someone out there must have the answers. I just have to find out who. I am asking for your intervention in this matter and hope that you will help me by publishing my fears and questions which only someone like me who has nothing more to loose is taking the risk of asking. I hope you will be able to help me bring to light my cause and my plight.
  
  Many thanks
  
  Dr Sipra Deb
  Eldest daughter of Protul Chandra Deb (missing presumed dead)

Long-missing NRI's skeleton found in India

There has been no sign of Pratul Deb for 18 months

Indian police investigating the case of a missing British Asian businessman are carrying out tests on remains found in a forest in north-east Assam state.

Pratul Deb, 67, a former teacher from north London, was believed kidnapped by militants on 18 March last year.

Police say two jailed tribesmen in a neighbouring state had led officers to where the remains were found.

Mr Deb's Sheffield-based family paid a £12,000 ($22,000) ransom in their campaign to secure his release.

Police recovered the remains following a seven-hour search in the dense Hawaithang forest on Assam's border with Mizoram state.

They also recovered a second skeleton.

Mr Deb's assistant, Sadhan Nath, is believed to have been kidnapped with him.

'Rivalries'

A team from the federal Central Bureau of Investigation has been in southern Assam's Barak valley for three months investigating the disappearances.

Sipra Deb said Assam's government was not doing enough

Mr Deb's daughters had put pressure on the governments of both Britain and India to have the case dealt with properly.

Police claim the two Chakma tribesman in Arunachal Pradesh state had confessed to involvement in the case.

Despite paying the ransom, Mr Deb's family have had no information on him since he went missing.

Local media reports have suggested his disappearance may have had more to do with local political and business rivalries than rebel activity.

Mr Deb contested the 2001 Assam state elections for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

His business supplying bamboo to a local paper mill may have clashed with a rival company, media reports say.

One CBI official said: "Normally rebels in north-east India release captives if the ransom they ask for has been paid.

"We feel there is more to this case than simple kidnap for money because Deb was not set free even after his family had paid a lot of money by local standards."

One of Mr Deb's daughters, Sipra, came to India with two officers from South Yorkshire police to meet Indian Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Her sister, Deepa, a lawyer, lobbied heavily in the UK.

Sipra alleged that Assam's Congress government was not pursuing the investigation into her father's abduction seriously.

Kabhi Kabhi ( Hindi)

Kabhi kabhi...

Kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khyaal aata hai,
Ke zindagi tere zulfon ke narm chaon mein guzarne paati
Toh shadaab ho bhi sakti thi
Yeh ranj-o-ghum ki sihaahi jo dil pe chaayi hai
Tere nazar ki shuwaaon mein kho bhi sakti thi
Magar yeh ho na sakaa
Magar yeh ho na sakaa
Aur abh yeh aalam hai
Ke tu nahi,tera ghum,teri justuju bhi nahi
Guzar rahi kuch iss tarah zindagi jaise
Isse kisi ke sahare ki arzoo bhi nahi
Na koi raah,na manzil,na roshni ka suraag
Bhatak rahi hai andhero mein zindagi meri
Inhi andhero mein reh jaonga kabhi khokar
Mein jaanta hun meri Humnawaaz
Magar yunhi,kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai
Kabhi kabhi...

Kabhi Kabhi by Sahir Ludhianavi

kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai

ke zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chaon mein

guzarne pati to SHADAB ho bhi sakti thi

ye TIRAGI jo mere ZIST ka muqaddar hai

teri nazar ki SHUAON mein kho bhi sakti thi

ajab na tha ke main BEGANA-ILM hokar

tere JAMAL ki RANAION mein kho rahta

tera GADAZ badan teri NEEM BAAZ aankhen

inheen haseen FAZAOON mein main hoh rahta

pukarteen mujhe jab TALKHIYAN zamane ki

tere labon se HALAWAT ke ghoont pe leta

HAYAT cheekhti phirti BAREHNA-SAR aur mein

GHANERI zulfon ke saaye mein chup ke jee leta

magar yeh ho na saka,

magar yeh ho na saka aur ab yeh aalam hai

ke tu nahin tera gham teri JUSTJOO bhi nahin

guzar rahi hai kuch is tarah zindagi jaise

ise kisi ke sahare ki aarzoo bhi nahin

zamaane bhar ke dukhon ko laga chuka hoon gale

guzar raha hoon kuch anjani RAHGUZARON se

MUHIB SAAYE meri SIMAT bharte aate hain

HAYAT-O-MOUT ke PUR-HAUL KHAR-ZARON se

na koi JADAH na manzil na roshni ka suragh

bhatak rahi hai KHALON mein zindagi meri

inheen KHALON mein rah jaaonga kabhi kho kar

main jaanta hoon meri HUMNAFAS magar yunhi

kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai'

Translated Version :

kabhi kabhi mere dil mein khayal aata hai // sometimes my heart has this thought

ke zindagi teri zulfon ki narm chaon mein // that Life in the shaeds of your hair (nothing much till here)

guzarne pati to SHADAB ho bhi sakti thi // if spent thus could have been FRESH/DELIGHTFUL

ye TIRAGI jo mere ZIST ka muqaddar hai //or could have been OLD/DARK as is the wont of my LIFE

teri nazar ki SHUAON mein kho bhi sakti thi // or could be lost in the LIGHT of eyes



ajab na tha ke main BEGANA-ILM hokar //it was quite strange coz it is known that I am an alien (when it comes to such things like love or whatever)

tere JAMAL ki RANAION mein kho rahta // would be lost in the ELEGANCE OF your BEAUTY

tera GADAZ badan teri NEEM BAAZ aankhen // your SOFT(not sure of the meaning) body n ur EYES HALF-LIKE A HAWK

inheen haseen FAZAOON mein main hoh rahta // would have lived in the the haseen (english equvalent anybody) ENVIRONS


pukarteen mujhe jab TALKHIYAN zamane ki // when the bitterness of the world would send me a summon

tere labon se HALAWAT ke ghoont pe leta // would have drunk a sip off your SWEETNESS

HAYAT cheekhti phirti BAREHNA-SAR aur mein // EXISTENCE/LIFE would scream PULL-OUT YOUR HEAD but me

GHANERI zulfon ke saaye mein chup ke jee leta // would have lived my live in the shades of your THICK hair..(so unromantic)


magar yeh ho na saka, //but this did not happen

magar yeh ho na saka aur ab yeh aalam hai //but this did not happen and now the situation is thus

ke tu nahin tera gham teri JUSTJOO bhi nahin // you are not there..nor is the sorrow (of your loss) nor your DESIRE

guzar rahi hai kuch is tarah zindagi jaise // life moves on in a way like

ise kisi ke sahare ki aarzoo bhi nahin // which does not have the desire of a support.


zamaane bhar ke dukhon ko laga chuka hoon gale // have seen/been thru all pains of the world

guzar raha hoon kuch anjani RAHGUZARON se // am walking thru unknown STREETS/ROADS

MUHIB SAAYE meri SIMAT bharte aate hain // DREADFUL SHADOWS try to ACCUMULATE around me (this is not so obvious, my understanding)

HAYAT-O-MOUT ke PUR-HAUL KHAR-ZARON se // WISHES THAT MY LIFE BE FULL OF THORNS/PAINS

na koi JADAH na manzil na roshni ka suragh // I am neither BLOCKED,nor have any destination nor therez a guiding light

bhatak rahi hai KHALON mein zindagi meri // myy life is wandering in EMPTINESS

inheen KHALON mein rah jaaonga kabhi kho kar // will be lost in these EMPTINESS(ES) someday

main jaanta hoon meri HUMNAFAS magar yunhi // i know this, but O-my-FRIEND..still

kabhi kabhi mere dil me khayal aata hai..