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When Killers Talk, Few in India Seem to Care When Killers Talk, Few in India Seem to Care
(about 14 hours later)
NEW DELHI — In the film, a man explains why he beheaded five fishermen instead of shooting them. He did not want to waste his bullets, which cost 100 rupees, or $1.50, each.NEW DELHI — In the film, a man explains why he beheaded five fishermen instead of shooting them. He did not want to waste his bullets, which cost 100 rupees, or $1.50, each.
Some journalists in the darkened room at the Press Club of India here gasped, but they knew they were witnessing a piece of investigative journalism that was unlikely to stir the nation. Maybe it was irrelevant, or too rustic? Their news organizations would largely ignore the story. Do you still wish to read about it? Maybe what a nation considers unimportant illuminates its very core.Some journalists in the darkened room at the Press Club of India here gasped, but they knew they were witnessing a piece of investigative journalism that was unlikely to stir the nation. Maybe it was irrelevant, or too rustic? Their news organizations would largely ignore the story. Do you still wish to read about it? Maybe what a nation considers unimportant illuminates its very core.
The documentary, “Operation Black Rain,” is about six of a series of planned massacres that occurred in the 1990s in the northern state of Bihar, allegedly at the hands of by Ranveer Sena, a militia of upper-caste landowners, and the 144 victims were, apart from children, farmworkers who were demanding better pay and appeared to be a part of one of the many fringe movements that claim to be the Communist Party of India, with Marx and Lenin invoked in parentheses.The documentary, “Operation Black Rain,” is about six of a series of planned massacres that occurred in the 1990s in the northern state of Bihar, allegedly at the hands of by Ranveer Sena, a militia of upper-caste landowners, and the 144 victims were, apart from children, farmworkers who were demanding better pay and appeared to be a part of one of the many fringe movements that claim to be the Communist Party of India, with Marx and Lenin invoked in parentheses.
Years after the crimes, dozens of the accused were sentenced to death or life in prison, but they were eventually acquitted on appeal for lack of evidence.Years after the crimes, dozens of the accused were sentenced to death or life in prison, but they were eventually acquitted on appeal for lack of evidence.
A reporter with the online magazine Cobrapost.com tracked down six of the accused, who, unaware that they were being filmed, explained in great detail how they had shot or carved up scores of people.A reporter with the online magazine Cobrapost.com tracked down six of the accused, who, unaware that they were being filmed, explained in great detail how they had shot or carved up scores of people.
The editor of Cobrapost, Aniruddha Bahal, is known as the father of India’s sting journalism. Over the years, with the help of hidden cameras, he has exposed the nexus between bookies and cricket administrators, and how easily politicians can be bribed. He also showed thugs claiming that they had butchered Muslims in 2002 with the approval of Narendra Modi, the current prime minister, who was then chief minister of the state of Gujarat — an investigation that a court permitted as supplementary evidence in a case concerning the riots. The editor of Cobrapost, Aniruddha Bahal, is known as the father of India’s sting journalism. Over the years, with the help of hidden cameras, he has exposed the nexus between bookies and cricket administrators, and how easily politicians can be bribed, and an investigative magazine he co-founded, Tehelka, showed thugs claiming that they had butchered Muslims in 2002 with the approval of Narendra Modi, the current prime minister, who was then chief minister of the state of Gujarat — an investigation that a court permitted as supplementary evidence in a case concerning the riots.
Inspired by his success, several television channels took to sting operations, which were sometimes sponsored by political parties or businessmen who wished to harm their foes. As a result, Indians have grown wary of stings.Inspired by his success, several television channels took to sting operations, which were sometimes sponsored by political parties or businessmen who wished to harm their foes. As a result, Indians have grown wary of stings.
In Mr. Bahal’s glory days, when he would announce a news conference to release the details of a sting, the entire news media would be in a flurry. Now, he told me, “It’s hard to get attention.”In Mr. Bahal’s glory days, when he would announce a news conference to release the details of a sting, the entire news media would be in a flurry. Now, he told me, “It’s hard to get attention.”
“Operation Black Rain” offers many startling insights. Ranveer Sena was better armed than most of India’s police force. Its members had AK-47s, and light machine guns, most of which were illegally procured from the Indian Army through a politician.“Operation Black Rain” offers many startling insights. Ranveer Sena was better armed than most of India’s police force. Its members had AK-47s, and light machine guns, most of which were illegally procured from the Indian Army through a politician.
The militants also said that they were trained by retired and serving soldiers of the Indian Army.The militants also said that they were trained by retired and serving soldiers of the Indian Army.
The film included a conversation with a former judge who had been investigating the massacres. He said he ended the inquiry after being threatened by Murli Manohar Joshi, a senior leader of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr. Joshi did not respond to a request for comment from Cobrapost.The film included a conversation with a former judge who had been investigating the massacres. He said he ended the inquiry after being threatened by Murli Manohar Joshi, a senior leader of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party. Mr. Joshi did not respond to a request for comment from Cobrapost.
After the film’s screening, India’s best-known public interest litigant, Prashant Bhushan, who was part of a panel discussion, said that all the accused in the massacres were acquitted because the judicial system was rigged.After the film’s screening, India’s best-known public interest litigant, Prashant Bhushan, who was part of a panel discussion, said that all the accused in the massacres were acquitted because the judicial system was rigged.
Mr. Bhushan is the originator of some of Indian journalism’s great exposés. But more recently, he realized, the news media were nervous about antagonizing Mr. Modi and large corporations with big exclusives. So he took to revealing information in news conferences instead of in leaks to journalists.Mr. Bhushan is the originator of some of Indian journalism’s great exposés. But more recently, he realized, the news media were nervous about antagonizing Mr. Modi and large corporations with big exclusives. So he took to revealing information in news conferences instead of in leaks to journalists.
But it is hard to startle India. Some journalists who watched “Operation Black Rain” listed the reasons why the story would not catch fire: The English-language news media does not care about the slaughter of the poor, most Hindi channels are run by upper-caste editors, and no organization would promote a documentary that shows B.J.P. leaders as complicit in massacres.But it is hard to startle India. Some journalists who watched “Operation Black Rain” listed the reasons why the story would not catch fire: The English-language news media does not care about the slaughter of the poor, most Hindi channels are run by upper-caste editors, and no organization would promote a documentary that shows B.J.P. leaders as complicit in massacres.
Whatever the reason, they were right.Whatever the reason, they were right.
Follow Manu Joseph, author of the novel “The Illicit Happiness of Other People,” at @manujosephsan.Follow Manu Joseph, author of the novel “The Illicit Happiness of Other People,” at @manujosephsan.