Friday, September 28, 2007
Rizwanur’s death: A tragic Hindu-Muslim love story
Priyanka, a millionaire’s daughter, and Rizwanur Rahman fell in love and got married. From her palatial house in Salt Lake, she came to the humble two-room house in a lower middle class to live with his family but their happiness barely lasted a month.
The police started harassing him. Rizwan was warned to let his wife go back to her house. He was rounded up, kept in detention and later his body was found on the railway tracks. And this hasn’t happened in Ahmedabad or Meerut, but in the City of Tagore.
Two adults who love each other and want to live together can’t be separated but here they were not only in love but also married. Still, the police not only played ‘moral guardians’ to separate the mismatch marriage: Rich-Poor & Hindu-Muslim wedlock.
Several top officials of Kolkata police allegedly colluded to try to separate them and put pressure on Rizwan even as he was seeking legal support and the help of human rights groups. West Bengal, especially Calcutta, is known to have an enlightened society compared to other Indian cities and it is a place where ordinary people and the middle-class does react.
There is outrage in Kolkata. Social organisations and citizens have taken up the issue. Inquiries have been ordered but that’s just a way to divert attention. Stern action must be taken against the police officers who harassed Rizwanul and Priyanka, the daughter of Ashok Todi who is Chairman of Lux hosiery.
The State and police have no business to interfere in the lives of people and stop people in love from marrying. We have enough of such killings in this country and it’s time for us to raise our voice strongly at all forums to ensure that lovebirds don’t have to fear for their lives in this country.
Going by WB Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya’s statement that guilty policemen would not be spared and his admission that the case has many angles including money power, communal and social issues.
Rizwan, the 30-year-old graphic designer is no more. He has lost his life for love and at least we can hope that justice would be done.
(Photo: Rizwan and Priyanka)
REFERENCE
