Saturday, November 11, 2006

Heartrending...

I just saw a news story on TV, where the person who threw the grenade in Kashmir's Pulwama district yesterday, killing 5 people, was being interviewed. He said that he had been paid Rs. 1000 by the militants to throw the grenade. He was caught and beaten up by the villages and handed over to the army. When the interviewer asked him if he had any idea before throwing the grenade, that it would kill so many people, he said, I am a little slow of understanding, I did not realise this would happen. He was asked what he felt now, when he had killed so many people. He replied that he has made a mistake and wouldn't do it again. My heart went out to the youth, who probably doesn't have any employment and had to go to the lengths of killing people for Rs. 1000 (approx. $20 for those who need the conversion). He will now probably go to jail and will stay there till he is at least middle-aged if not more, that is, if he is not executed. To watch this news just after coming back from lunch at a restaurant where I paid Rs. 900 for two, made me hang my head in shame, and I am still hurting. But then, to be perfectly honest, I suppose I shall get over it in a few hours and it will be business as usual for us, while that young man's life is ruined forever, all for Rs. 1000.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Yes, poverty, an empty stomach, disability (slow of understanding), lack of help and understanding...these are very sad. Somebody used this poor man and that person is free to cause more harm.