The serial blasts that rocked the Mahabodhi temple complex in Bihar’s Gaya district two days back, have united the world in expressing shock against this dastardly deed targeting one of the holiest shrines of Buddhism, arguably the most peacable amongst religions.
Developments in the case are hogging headlines, placing those involved in the ensuing investigations, like the police, squarely in the limelight, leading to a public debate on the practices they have been following.
“The National Investigation Agency (NIA) questions man for Bodh Gaya blasts”, a leading national daily has reported today in bold headlines.
“This is a marked departure from past practices followed by the police and other investigative agencies in the state, who have blamed cattle, stray dogs, and other animate and inanimate objects, for instances of a criminal nature, with great success”, the same national daily then, apparently, forgetting to add in the write-up.
Police old-timers have expressed dismay at this development. “What was the need to change practices that have served the state so well since independence?” they have rightly queried. Their concern “where will we find enough men to question for the number of crimes taking place in the state?” remains unanswered.
In a separate development, senior police officials clarified that despite allegations by political parties, there was no intelligence failure on the part of the police. Talking to reporters at the police station, a senior police official has claimed that he was fully aware of the bombing plans.
In order to further buttress his astonishing claim, he called several of his team-members to the meeting and asked them if they were aware of the bombing plans as well. Sensing hesitation amongst team-members, he asked them to speak the truth fearlessly without fear of reprisals.
One by one, each of the team-members came up and said that they were aware of plans to bomb the temple.
After each one of them had got a chance to say their piece, which was almost identical, watched by a proud senior official, he (senior official) looked the reporters square in the eye, twirled his moustache and asked, “You heard it yourself. Each one of my team-members was aware of the bombing plan. Can you call this an intelligence failure? Please ask the politicians to mind their own business and not meddle in what they know nothing about”.
Politicians guilty of calling this an intelligence failure have apologised and nominated the police department for a special award in recognition of their education and knowledge about events past, present and future.
darkofficehumour 
Nice reading about you
Thanks for visiting my blog. Be in touch. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may find something of your interest.
You are welcome. Thanks for returning the favour. Reached your blog through a link on someone’s else’s blog. Have been through a few of your posts. Will return.
thank you sir
I live in Mumbai
where do you belong to
Gurgaon for several years now.
oh dear sir
mujhe laga hi tha aap north ke hi honge
bahut khushi hui aap se milke sir
Likewise sir. Mujhe bhi.
thank you very much sir 🙂 🙂 🙂
The senior police officer is right – the politicians must do what they do best – divert state funds to their private coffers, demand commissions for any contract they hand out, and indulge in drinks and women – not neccessarily in that order. After all, this is a free country and they are free to indulge in women and drinks or both togther at the same time — plus a dozen or two dozen other social misdeeds. Full freedom! What the heck, add in criminal misdeeds too – afterall, we can’t let our leaders be reduced to ordinary citizens level.
By the way, not forgetting – the police need awards for honesty, integrity and buffoonery. The medal must match the size of the twirling moustache.
Let me take a rest before I decide what awards to bestow upon the bastion of democracy – the beloved Press.
Stop stop Eric! You are taking the thunder away from my post 🙂
A thousand apologies, kind sir – that was never my intention. I’ve been reading your posts for quite some time and doubt anyone can match your ‘politcal’ wit 🙂
Keep them coming, my friend 🙂 I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts.
All good wishes, Ankur.
Thanks again Eric.
What is even more disappointing, even more precise alarming, is that this fraud is going on in the democracies as well as dictatorship. They really know how to put the “spin” on things here in USA. I have become more and more cynical as the years have passed. I no longer believe or trust much of what my own government says. .
I agree. Irrespective of the format of rule, there seems to be a common thread of greed (of different kinds; money, fame, power, respect are some) that runs across. I must say, however, that though my writing is satirical, and I poke fun at different sections of humanity at different times, I maintain immense faith in human beings.
I try to do the same but am not optimistic. As the megacorps and megabanks expand and tighten control it seems “good” people continue on a road of disempowerment and the right to vote is a mere illusion of democracy.
I share that concern. I think megacorps do not “pay” enough either for the right to do business and make money or for protecting the planet from the environmental demands they make.
Sleep easy in your bed tonight Ankur knowing these fine men are looking after you and your fellow country men
Today a new Ashes series has started. I am reminded of an old lore in cricket, of a time when Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson were running through opposition batsmen like hot knives through butter, which went, ‘Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Lillee don’t get you, then Thomsom must”. Applied to our situation it becomes, “if politicians don’t get you, then the cops must”.
The Aussies tore through us today!
Bowlers on both sides are trying to live up to the Lillee/Thomson lore. Aussies are down as well.
My friend has tickets for Saturday hope it gets that far!
With the proliferation of ODI and T20 games, buying tickets for Day 4 and 5 of a Test is like buying a lottery ticket. Good chance of losing the money, but if the game does reach that far, one could be rewarded with an absorbing finish.
As long as we beat them!
Here here. Can they also tell America’s politicians to mind their own business? Sigh.
All are cut from the same cloth, with the same thick skin. Wouldn’t make a difference.
Your work puts mine to shame, my new friend. Wonderful piece of writing and insight.
Thank you. You are very kind. I would probably just call it a different kind of writing, not better or worse. Some will like it. Many won’t.
Next step for the police would be to blame the bomb for the explosion, and since the offending object has been already destroyed and thus punished, the police will be able to close the case.
Good idea! One essential pre-requisite, however, would be brains. I think still time before we can evolve to this level of sophistication.
Brains are not essential. Some crimes clearly demonstrate that.
That’s why they blow the brains out first.
True ‘intelligence failure’. Indeed.
Glad to be have hopped back from hibernation, Sire!
Glad to have you and your wit back to add some colour to the online exchanges.