FIRING AS A METHOD OF CROWD CONTROL AND THE KILLING OF CITIZENS REQUIRE SERIOUS QUESTIONING 26th May 2008 The death of any human being, innocent or guilty, in any protest rally, agitation, demonstration or riot makes me profoundly sad. Indian riots, as I have seen them, are the bloodiest in the world. I have seen them happen, could smell the pungency of death, tasted the salt in my mouth, brushed shoulders with them and stared at them full face, just as I have seen them on the battered faces of those who have been hit by the police. The sight of death and the taste of blood revolts me. It fills me with maniacal hatred for the police, politicians and those in authority, something which make me understand why oppressed peoples go on a murder rampage after a successful revolution. Countless innocent people, including police and para-military personnel, have died in police firings in countless riots in our country over the years. They have laid down their lives without question or even a promise for a better tomorrow for their children and thousands of women have been widowed and children orphaned. And since thousands have died in countless police firings since independence, firing as a method of crowd control requires serious questioning. Aren%u2019t there any other methods of controlling the crowds? There are. Since there is at least one such adventure by the police every other week and sometime several in a given week in our country, an answer to this question is urgent.
