THE TRAGIC END

“The IPS-IAS couple will be sent back to the center”- was the hot news of the day. The IPS officer is a renowned personality, well known as an efficient superintendent of  police. The IAS lady officer  is working as a District Collector posted about 184 km away from the police district head quarter. One day, there was a hot exchange of words between the Collector and some advocates. The advocates attacked the Collector’s residence when the children were at home. There were charges and counter charges. The advocates called for a boycott of the courts, demanding a judicial enquiry and punishment to be meted out to the person(s) who so ever may be found guilty. When this proposal was not accepted by the government, the agitators gave a call for total Western Orissa Bundh. People suffered very badly due to this Bundh. Life was totally paralyzed. Government lost the revenue for the day. The IAS association also represented to the Government that an enquiry  be done and stringent action should be taken against the culprit(s). Mahila Commission also entered in to the array because the Collector was a Mahila. Government finally set up an inquiry commission. This drama continued for a few days.

An interm formula was proposed by some unknown mediators. Both the parties expressed regrets over the incident. Some how, normal government work was resumed. Again an issue was raised about who apologized first, the collector or the advocates. The matter somehow subsided with passage of time.

After a long time, news came that the S.P. and Collector couple will be sent back to the Center. Many questions, however,  remained unanswered:

A)    Whether the appointed enquiry commission, submitted its report?

B)     Whether the Mahila Commission submitted its report?

C)    Whether the entire exercise could pinpoint the culprits.

It is interesting to note that some knowledgeable people opined that when there was a compromise and the case was with withdrawn, there was no question of any enquiry and report or any action.

Though superficially it looks that the matter stands closed, in reality it does not. The Collector and advocates made a compromise. True. The loss caused to the Government was never realized. The pain suffered by the innocent people, the starvation caused to the poor, the harassment faced by daily wage earners was never compensated. Now the question is - Who will wipe out tears from the eyes of those who suffered from this agitation ?