We all know the answer why it so happens with big criminals/politicians like Shahabuddin. On one side, the Bihar police/government claiming that they have convicted 1,100 people in last 4 months through the newly launched speedy court system but on the other side, we can see a the example of Shahabuddin case. It's been more than 6 months he is behind bars but there is no outcome. Basically the treatment of politicians falls under special category. If they have a case in their name then our fat law will just take it course till those politicians are dead. we all know the case of late P.V.N Rao, Late Rajiv Gandhi and another live example is the Lalu Prasad's case.

Mr. Nitish has really taken some drastic steps to put Bihar on a better path so we should expect that here too he will show a better example by pushing this case to a closure. Once he goes behind bars for life term (this is what Shahabuddin deserves at the least) law & order problem will reduce by 10%.

Sometimes I doubt that Nitish is afraid of hurting Muslim vote bank by doing so. I am sure this could be one of the reason for delay in the processing of this case. - Sujit, Singapore - June 18, 2006

“Lust for power and lust for money, Works as an impetus for committing a crime”. Corruption and crime are twins. Both nourish and help to flourish each other to cripple society. Power-hungry politicians provide criminals with all kind of support including material, legal etc; in return, they expect to get the muscle power to wrest votes. The same thing we are witnessing in Bihar at present. Big fish threaten small fish, and the small fish then thinks of crime as the quick and easiest way of becoming big fish. Delay in punishing the culprits is also a cause of crime. It is universally known to everyone that justice delayed is justice denied, and justice withheld is even worse than that. Justice is delayed, vested interests take an upper hand, compromises are common, criminals are inducted in the government, a perverted form of governance is respected, and human traffickers have hidden sponsors, but we turn a blind eye to everything. We overlook everything, from lax security to political leaders who shelter criminals. The onus lies entirely on the shoulders of the media. Unless we change our character, we have brought about our downfall.

The article title “Shahabuddin, the Manipulator” is a small and remarkable attempt in arousing awareness among the people by asking some nice questions. My view points over these issues are as following:

1. The judiciary should be amended in such a way that culprits get punishment within minimum possible time. The judiciary should focus on speedy justice to award criminals exemplary punishments so that others dare not commit crime in future.

2. The people are awake, but afraid. Their voice is too weak. Honest individuals can still expose crime through the media, committees, commissions, NGO’s etc. These institutions can inculcate moral courage among the people and keep them enlightened and vigilant. - Durga Singh - June 19, 2006

This is more of a general opinion for the article, "Shahabuddin, the Manipulator". Bihar has become breeding ground for goondaism. Talk about misrule, improper secularism, corruption...and Bihar is first on the list. Amidst countries like Singapore where politicians are trained at Harvard, here is a place in the "holy land" where a politician doesn't know to sign in English! Its difficult to distinguish who is the politician and who is the criminal. Until such pathetic situation prevails, we will find criminals seeking patronage among politicians and leading royal lives. The growing generations of Bihar should realise they owe the duty to do their bit of change to the land they were born in, at least choose their leaders with sanity. - Divya Raj - June 19, 2006

Mr. Pandey, nice article but you forgot to mention the Siwan raja's recent flirting with LLB degree from a college in Muzaffarpur. But that's okay, the list of crimes committed by the Siwan MP is so long that it is only natural to forget some of his misdeeds.

I can't help but wonder the motive behind Shahabuddin's desire to have a law degree. Expanding his knowledge couldn't be the reason for when you are the kingpin of a vast network of criminals and terrorists, expanding your knowledge would be the last thing in your mind. So was he planning to become an advocate (at least on paper) and act as his own lawyer in all the criminal cases against him? Or was he just testing if he could get away with it like rest of his criminal acts?

Another question that I would like to ask the senior state officials is why the state government doesn't install a closed circuit camera in his cell which is monitored 24x7 by a senior jail or district official or even the DGP himself? That way who attacked who would no more be questionable.

While we are on it, I would also suggest the government to install hidden, tiny microphones in all jail cells, possibly hidden cameras as well. Imagine what could it reveal! "Yeah, this is Shabu. How am I? Forget how I am. I am as fine as one can be. My back? Yes my back is fine too. Who do you think I am? An 80-year old with his one foot in the grave? Quit wasting my time and listen to me very carefully. I want you to send a truck-load of assault rifles manufactured in Pakistan to my parents house in Siwan. I will be needing them soon to settle some scores! And don't ever call me to to ask how I am, get it?"

Or picture this. "Yeah, Durgati Singh? This is Bindu Singh from Beur Jail cell number 302. I want you to pick up that 5-year old son of that iron merchant in Kankarbagh. Then you call them and ask for Rs. 5 crore in ransom. But under no condition you would drop the price below 1 crore; is that understood? We have to pay our bills too, you know."

I am sure the evidence would be admissible in the court. Let Shahabuddin be his own lawyer. - Anil Kumar - June 19, 2006

Shahabuddin is at least in jail. What about biggies who in spite of all the scams - fodder, sugar, stamp paper, train sabotages, communal and cast riots etc. - enjoying the ministerial birth.

One should not disregard consecutive wins of Shahabuddin with around 2 lakh votes in elections. He is one of the few MPs who spent the MP-allocated funds; Rs 2 crore in development works. He has renovated many schools and building up huge Engineering College in Siwan.

Muslim majority vote him blindly. Being an RJD member, he enjoys the support of Yadavs. The upper caste land-owners see him as a messiah against Maoists.

His rival CPI (ML) leader Amar Yadav is also in jail. Both win the elections without campaigning. Both are fearful but respected by their supporters. Maoists receive arms from their Nepal counterparts and so Shahabuddin from ISI.

The Siwan Raja wishes the continuance of Moa terror so that populace continue to vote for him forever. - Tarakeswar Dubey - June 19, 2006

I do not support any of the points mentioned by the author here, nor comments submitted by my other Bihari brothers all over the world. This is just showing how hollow and useless our judicial system is and biased against one particular religion. I found only Mr. Tarkeshwar Dubey's writing to be very relevant and balanced. I have no problem sending Shahabuddin to jail and if he is guilty, he must be punished.

L K Advani and his party openly, in broad daylight, demolished a 500 year old mosque in front of the whole world and nothing happened to him. Bal Thackeray openly said he did it, but the law is silent. Narendra Modi killed more than 10 thousand and he was called Chhote Sardar. How is the law running behind Shahabuddin?

In Indian politics, we are used to the corruption of officials, although we do not like it. We all want that to change, in order to have effective, real leadership. I have to wonder if this campaign is motivated in part by his being from a particular religion. Maybe no body likes that one person can rise from minority religion. I think this is a kind of manipulation by those negatively affected by some policies implemented by him in his district: doctors can not charge more than Rs. 30 for a whole month and all the officials were bound to work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..

Regarding the recovery of Ak-47s and all other stuff: we all are aware our police are so efficient in getting this kind of job done. Was there any neutral, non-political citizen present when police and intelligence agents were doing this raid and recovery? Our police can "recover" even missiles and tanks from any house, regardless of whether the place is large enough to contain them.

I will not be surprised tomorrow that our beloved Indian Govt will declare him a Terrorist. - Anwar SMK, New York, USA - June 22, 2006

Discussion on this topic is now closed.