Politicians shed tears and take over where police left

SURAT, March 18: Sentiments over, it's time for politics. As the political parties take to electioneering, Nita Satbhaya, whose brutal mu...

SURAT, March 18: Sentiments over, it’s time for politics. As the political parties take to electioneering, Nita Satbhaya, whose brutal murder warranted the municipal by-election, has joined the police statistics. Three months later there are no remains of the furore the heinous crime generated in its wake.

But for her family and neighbours, no one is talking of the murder. Political parties did in the run up to the filing of nominations on Thursday. There was no sense of loss, no mourning, sheer cold blooded calculations to exploit sentiments.

The Bharatiya Janata Party ended up with a lot of egg on its face when it tried to persuade Satbhaya’s sister to contest the election. Her reprimand “her killers are still at large. Who knows the killer might be here, ” packed in nutshell the angry reaction of an aggrieved family.

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In a way, what the BJP could not do the Congress could. Congress leaders who were vocal in demanding a CBI inquiry, saw in the election an opportunity to increase its presence in the BJP-dominated civic body and were able to field Aruna Patel, a relative of the slain councillor. Incidentally, the first by-election, was won by the Congress in 1997.

The local BJP leaders had gone out of way in lambasting the State government for its failure in maintaining law and order in the city. Suspension of five policemen was followed by transfers by the police commissioner and his two deputies.

The BJP Mahila Morcha had even planned an agitation to press for the arrest of the killers. The police have arrested two persons in connection with the case. After the much publicised arrests, all the police had to say was “the duo are not the actual killers but gave supari to get her killed. More arrests are to be made.” Every time the new commissioner is cornered on the issue his stock phrase is “we will name them in 10 days”.

But the local leaders are convinced with the pace of investigation. None of them is any more sentimental over the issue. “They have arrested some persons. We have to believe them, ” is their stock reply, but most admit “we know they are not the actual killers”.

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From Union Minister Kashiram Rana to Water Supply Minister Narottam Patel and from Surat BJP president Pravin Naik to party leader in Corporation Natubhai Patel to the last woman councillor was eager to see the killers behind the bars. New Mahila Morcha president Darshana Jardosh says “we can’t question the police investigation. We have employed her husband and are pooling money, but we have to move on.” In fact, more than a dozen councillors are yet to part with a month’s salary to be given to Satbhaya’s family.

Naik says “the police sound confident they will definitely nab the killers.” Patel says “we question the police every now and then.” Former mayor Ajit Desai chips in with “investigation is on. Even Rajiv Gandhi’s killers were nabbed after years.” Ditto for former deputy mayor Hemlataben Chauhan. “Investigation is on. It’s all for the party to decide”.

Lawyers were quick to take to the streets for Satbhaya was also a bar member. Former bar president Ashit Mehta says “we know real culprits are moving scotfree but the lawyers were against prolonging the agitation as a couple of arrests were made. That is enough”.