It was 4.00am of December 1997, there was a knock on my door!!!! As i wonder what's now? I dragged myself out off my bed and went to the door and opened it. Selim, a constable of my police station was standing in front my door, he was covered in a warm blanked with a torch in his hand in the foggy winter night.
Selim: Sorry to disturb you sir.
Me: Its all right. What is the emergency??
Selim: Sir a mob is trying to torch a house in the village! (he said with an urgency in his voice)
Me: Wakeup the driver and ask him to start the jeep, um coming after changing my clothes.
We were in the jeep within five minutes, it was too foggy outside, the fog is so thick that it cant be seen for more than 1 feet. I was wondering why the mob is so angry at someone that they want to torch them alive!!! I need to take transfer out of this village, the people in this village is not only illiterate but very aggressive too!! They will start a bloodbath on slightest of argument! Above that my station is understaffed and not sufficiently equipped.
As we approach the scene the night sky is lit with fire, the crackling sound of the fire can be heard in this silent night! As we get nearer an odd smell hated my nose!! What it could be?? The smell is familiar, but I cannot put a thumb on it!!
When finally reached the scene the crime was already committed. Three body was on fire and a mob of 30-40 people was surrounding the victim with pitch fork, manchette, stick and other sorts of weapon in hand.
The engines sound made the turn there head. There was not a drop of fear or regret in their eye nor any respect for my authority!!! I pushed through the crowd with constable Selim and my driver to reach the victims, Ataullah, his wife and his 6years old child was burning on stake. Their body was turning into charcoal.
Me: Selim, take water from the well and try to stop the fire quickly!
As i was instucting my constable the Sardar(Leader) of the village approched me.
Sardar: Sir, why are you here?? You shouldnt meddle everywhere!
Me: I have to. Goverment is paying to meddle in your dirty works ( I answered with disgust in my voice)
Sardar smirked and replied: By now you should have realised that I am the goverment and authority here!
His answer made me happy as now i can trick him into coming to station: If so, than you must know what has unfolded here?
Sardar: You can see in front of your eyes what has happened!
Me: I have to write details report. You have to come to station to give your statement.
He replied with carelessness: I will come this afternoon, i have got to sleep.
ME: Sardar, a day will come you have to regret for your arrogance
HA! HA! HA! he laughed in reply and turned away with his goons.
Selim, my driver and I recovered the dead body and put them in the jeep to take them in the station. Than i turned back to the crowd and saw Rakin looking at me. I called him over!
There was fear in his eye, i can feel it
Me: Rakin, what happened here?
Rakin: Sir, I don't know! When i reached here I saw Ataullah and his family is being dragged to the stake.
Me: Do you know why this barbarism?
Rakin: Sorry sir I don't know.
I could feel he is hiding something, why shouldn't he? If he utters a word it would be impossible for him and his family to live here!!
Me: OK come to the station if you know something.
We took the bodies with us. No one will open their mouth here in front of prying eyes. I have to think of something to be able to talk with Rakin in secret. He is the only one here who will speak the truth. It took us 10mins to reach the station, I looked back of the jeep towards the bodies and instructed selim to take the bodies to the morgue, in the meantime i will write the report. (Continued)