MyVoice is to lift up the voices and experiences

Human beings are real power machines

The bizarre incident of a Russian passenger jet striking a flock of birds in the air has caught the world attention. I started wondering where our world was heading for. As always, I, being part of the family that once met with a road accident with no casualty in Tuticorin, will be able to understand and gauge the impact/aftermath of an accident.

Safety comes first as having been quoted by everyone. Technologically strong as the world is, there have been so many air accidents worldwide to date. After all, the international community has been seriously dependent on manpower more than technology.

Human beings have been the real and robust power machines, for a longer span of time having been working hard on various fronts. When it comes to safety, it is also about human psychology. For instance, small steps like recreational activities, family bond, goodwill gestures and tender care will have positive and great impacts on the human space.

I remember people and my relatives exchanging a lot of pleasantries like talk and smile in a profound manner while travelling/during send-off in my native areas like Tuticorin, Korkai, Tiruchendur, Tirunelveli, Kanyakumari, Marthandam and Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu.

P Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai

Pehlu Khan verdict, a sabotage of justice

Everyone from the witnesses, the viewers of the video footage and the police to the court know who lynched Pehlu khan to death. Still the dairy farmer' killers were acquitted in a clear case of sabotage of justice.

Now the biggest worry is that it might send wrong signals to potential vigilantes and embolden them to commit hate crimes without fear of the law. It was a travesty of justice that the Alwar sessions court gave the accused the benefit of the doubt despite video footage of mob lynching, the 'dying declaration' of the deceased victim, and post-mortem report holding 'injuries due to beating' as the cause of death and 'confessions' of cow vigilantes on a TV sting.

Inexplicably, the court found the footage of the incident that occurred in broad daylight at a crowded junction on a national highway 'inadmissible evidence' in the absence of authentication by forensic tests. Why the court did not send it to a forensic laboratory or ask the police to do so is not clear.

That the man who shot the video turned hostile or stayed away from testifying, a ground cited by the court to validate the acquittal, does not establish that the camera which cannot be lied. The prosecution did a botched job of the investigation and failed to present a fool-proof case to win the conviction of the accused.

Should we believe that some aliens from outer space descended on the highway and brutally lynched Pehlu Khan to death? Or should we think that it was just a hallucination? The police booked dairy farmer Pehlu Khan's sons and companions on the charge of cow smuggling under Animal Protection Act and betrayed its bias.

When an open-and-shut case like Pehlu Khan lynching case does not result in conviction, it can make the perpetration of targeted slayings with impunity 'normal'.

India's tragedy is that its political complexion and climate have changed so much that these days almost anything by religious bigots in the name of 'majoritarian assertion' goes.

Nevertheless, it is to be hoped that the appellate court (Rajasthan High Court or the Supreme Court) will reverse the flawed judgment of the sessions court and uphold the majesty of the law. When it comes to dispensing justice, our judiciary should not be found wanting.

G David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu

Punjab CM should mend his ways

With reference to the statement of Punjab Chief Minister regarding taking any action against the protesters who blocked various roads including National Highways on August 13 for holding protest against the demolition of 5 centuries-old temple belonging to Guru Ravidas, it is totally false, immature and shows the hunger for vote bank. This kind of statement was not expected from the ex-defense personal.

It will further worsen the law and order situation in Punjab. The government just can't remain mum on these kinds of forceful bandhs. The Chief Minister has also made totally irrelevant statement regarding non-action as the community was emotionally disturbed.

But it should not forget that several unions like teachers, employees and unemployed youth are sitting on dharnas on a daily basis. So, whether they are not emotionally disturbed? The government's main aim is to provide a secular environment to the people not disturbing the peace on communal grounds.

Dr Navneet Seth, Dhuri, Punjab

China should mind its own business

China, being a permanent member at the UNSC, cornered by its all-weather friend Pakistan has sought a closed-door discussion on Kashmir after the abrogation of the Article 370 and 35 A of the Constitution.

After 1965, this is the first time UNSC seems to hold a closed-door meeting with no minutes on record and no reporter being allowed. It is a matter of surprise that the UNSC should have such a meeting on a subject involving the internal affairs of India at this distance of time after its resolution in 1947.

Much water has flown under the bridge since then. This also shows the big brother attitude of China. China should first concentrate on making peace with the Hong Kong protestors, restore peace in Tibet and give back freedom to Uighur Muslims.

It should make its home clean before delivering a call to India about the Kashmiris that is altogether is an internal affair of our nation which is being sorted out in a peaceful manner according to the Constitution of the nation.

Sravana Ramachandran, Chennai