11th

Image of a close relation

Kamrup district of Assam had 3 Sub Divisions : Barpeta,Nalbari and Guawahati. While posted there i used to go for night checks there once a week alternately. It was an overnight work. Absentees policemen were censored. During one such check, i noticed a young woman one night standing on roadside signalling us to stop at about 4 am near Maligaon,headquarters of the NF Railways in Guawhati. I told the driver to stop the vehicle. I looked at the woman. She must be about 5 and half feet tall,fair,putting on white sari with sharp features speaking in English. She looked liked a close relation. After seeing us she started crying. She told us that she had been thrown down the bus after robbing her night'earnings of Rs. 300/- by the driver and handyman and that they  drove away towards Noonmati side. I told the police officer escorting us to follow the Noonmati route in search of the bus,its driver and handyman. After an hour long chase/search we located the bus,driver and handyman at the Noonmati bus stand. The woman recognized them. We brought them to police station. They accepted the crime and returned the amount. We allowed the woman to go with the amount and kept the driver and handyman for legal action. It was by now about 7 am on a cold morning. All the time i was thinking as to why i took so much interest in such case. It could have been handled at the Thana level. Whether the image of that close relation which i saw in the woman motivated me to take action at my level ? I cannot say.

 Quotable Quotes :"You are remembered for the rules you break."Dougl MacArthur.