Bhagalpur Blindings Remembered
Originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1
photo courtesy google images
Bhagalpur blindings is the incident of 1979 and 1980 in Bhagalpur in India when the police blinded 31 undertrials (or convicted criminals, according to some versions), by pouring acid into their eyes. The incident became infamous as Bhagalpur blindings. The incident was widely debated and discussed by several human rights organisations.
2007 Torture by Bhagalpur Police
On August 28, 2007, Salim Ilyas aka Aurangzeb, a 20 year old man, snatched a gold necklace. When searched, the necklace was recovered from him. Bhagalpur policemen were recorded by Indian television crews brutally lynched and tortured Salim Ilyas publicly until he lost consciousness. The incident acquired Indian and global recognition further worsening Bhagalpur's notoriety as one of the most lawless areas in India's so-called MOST lawless state, Bihar. Bhagalpur police have had a long history of extrajudicial and excessive violence. The pattern is endemic in all of Bihar, but the Salim Ilyas incident in Bhagalpur and its coverage in India's activist, investigative television journalism has highlighted the nature of human rights violation. Internet videos of Salim Ilyas's torture wherein he is shown to be chained to the rear of a Policeman's motorcycle and being dragged barebodied through 5 odd metres of dirtroad have proliferated.
Bhagalpur is a city and municipal corporation in Bihar state in eastern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Bhagalpur District.
Bhagalpur is a divisional town of historical importance situated on the southern bank of the Ganga river. Situated 220km east of state capital Patna and 410 km north west of Calcutta, it is well connected by rail and road.
Bhagalpur is famous worldwide for its silk production. The silk industry in this city is hundreds of years old and a whole clan exist that has been producing silk for generations. There is a Silk Institute and Agricultural college here, as well as a University, and Engineering, Medical and Homeopath colleges.
Sourced from Wikipedia
They were criminals they got caught
31 under trials
In 1980 in Bhagalpur
Misery savagery their lot
Beaten black and blue by the
Khaki hoodlums rabid cops
In their eyes it was acid
calling it Ganga Jal
Water of the Ganges
they poured
Eyes burnt gouged and gored
Such is law and order
Deplored
Bhagalpur Blindings
Sends a chill down your spine
Oh Lord
Eye sight that will
Never be restored
Law and Order
Ignored
Human values
Butchered
on a weeping
chopping board
