Branding or debranding, God knows

Tug-off-war began for branding/debranding the 15-yr-old Pakistani youth, who was allegedly nabbed by Border Security Force while trying to cross the Wagah border. 
The youth was presented as a suicide bomber before media by BSF where the suspect also spoke to media persons accepting he was a suicide bomber. 
However, the Amritsar police invoked very soft sections of crossing border without proper documents like passport and visa. The youth was sent to a remand and a joint interrogation was ordered till January 20. 
But to everyone’s surprise, a leading and respected newspaper reported that the youth had mistakenly crossed the border and was branded as suicide bomber, just after two days of interrogation.
Tackling such cases is so flimsy in India. First of all, the interrogation of the suspect by BSF was presented before the media. Moreover, the BSF officials further presented the suspect before media where he was interviewed. 
However, the interrogation details were kept aside by Amritsar police and loose sections were invoked. 
Further, there was a media trial, which presented the suspect innocent on basis on `anonymous officials’. 
We are still far away from the better investigating agencies. Moreover, in absence of responsible media, who are running for `breaking news’, we still need to grow. 
Well, the suspect’s remand ends on Wednesday. Lets see, what the outcome. The process needs pondering, right.
See ya then.

Lohri

The entire Punjab is celebrating Lohri. However, as journos, we were trying to find a single house where girl child Lohri was being celebrated wanting to do a story on them. We could not locate one in the holy city of Amritsar.  
Well Lohri is celebrated to welcome new member of a family. I fail to realize why a girl child is still not accepted in the North Indian family. At few places, government did come ahead and dedicated Lohri celebrations to the girl child. For several others, it didn’t matter. 
I saw boys helping each other with flying kites. Hordes of kites were flying in the sky. The kites and the sky looked beautiful and gave a comforting feel. 
However, none of these kites was managed by a girl. Kite flying, in this part it seems, is still a man’s area.
It feels sad as to how girls are being sidelined here though I have a few friends who adore their daughters. But the maximum part, still, fail to accept the woman power. 
 It’s distressing that the cradle scheme by district administration has got 15 girl children in the year so far. On the last day of 2009, when everyone was hopping for welcoming a new year, the cradle scheme had another girl as their guest.
But its more comforting that these girl children live their life rather than being left to die at a garbage dump. I witnessed three such instances, in the last three months of my reporting in Amritsar, where girl children were left to die at the hands of stray dogs. Really disturbing !!!
We still require to ponder over this ill-side of ours. 

Happy Lohri !!!

Soniya