It is indeed deeply shocking to know the barbarous murder of Mr. Jacob Lalhmingmawia from Mizoram. He came to Pune from Mizoram (North east India) with full of enthusiasm to do Travel and Tourism course. It takes 5 days by Railways to reach Pune from Mizoram. Hardly a month he was in the city and it is unexpected to have any crime record on him in sojourn. But he was brutally killed in simple reason on 20th September 2003

The culprits alleged that while he was trying to run away from the mob, he fell in the canal and died. But it is mysterious that his dead body was fished out from the canal and his T-shirt was found near the canal. There were severe injuries on his nose, knees, elbows, and toes. 
 
Jacob and his two friends had gone for a walk after dinner at Solapur Bazar. They were near the Poolgate bus station around 11:30 pm, when two persons forced them to stop. When Vhanllasanga asked what they wanted, the duo slapped him. Another person who arrived on a motorcycle at that place stop and beat Benjamin with a stick on his hand. By then a large crowd on lookers had gathered. But who dares to intervene and help the poor innocent students or try to solve the problem calmly? Is that because of the Students are from other states or their looks are different from onlookers? Or is that the attitude of the people in the city?

The police arrested the three culprits. The investigations so far have revealed that 25 years old Jacob was done to death after he and his friends passed some remarks to the culprits. It is difficult to understand why the culprits could easily kill in such a barbarous manner. India is such a large country with diverse culture and looks. The Northeast Indians are mostly Mongoloids and their looks are different from Aryans, Dravidians etc. Not only different from the physical appearance, there are copious differences in customs, culture life style, eating habits etc. Many of the Autorickshawwalas, Taxi drivers, Bus conductors, Shopkeepers and some section of the people in the city takes advantage and fleece the North east India students due to different in looks and communication gap in Hindi and Marathi. We may have different culture, customs and physical appearance (looks) but Life is Life. We have got only one life and all the lives in this world regardless of the poor or the rich, Hindus or Muslims, Aryans or Dravidians, Aryans or Mongoloids have cost (price) of life. We cannot say that our lives are costlier than their lives. How can we lynch an innocent student like Mr. Jacob in such a barbarous manner in simple reason? 
 
The North East students are one of the minor groups in the city. But the majority people should not snub the minority’s rights to live. Generally the Northeast people tiff and fight with bare hand and hardly murder in squabble. But today in many cities in India easily murder other people like the northeast people killing the wild animals in the jungle. The cost/price of human life in many cities is cheaper than wild animals in northeast India especially in Nagaland.

If some one is dying on the roadside in the city, who bothers to help him/her? The cost/price of human life is becoming very cheap in the city. We need to be more sensitive in this aspect; otherwise it may become cheaper. Many a times, the cost of life in city is cheaper than the cost of a dog in Nagaland. For instance, if a vehicle dashed/hit and killed the dog, the driver has to pay the double price of that dog in Nagaland. But in the city, many drivers even hit /dashed man and ran away in many cases. Recently, a truck driver hit a man driving a scooter and run away. Who cares your life in the city if you are killed intentionally or unintentionally? Mr. Jacob was killed murdered in simple reason. But who came to support and fight for the case except the Mizo students and northeast students in Pune. The cost of human life is becoming very cheap in the city in India. Anything can happen to you or to your loved ones and we need to be more sensitive to extend our help to other people. Help others and you will be helped.

Copyright @thohepou 2003