Dear Editor,
The lynching of 17-year-old Haresh Singh is unjustified. What benefits are there for this savage, revengeful lynching? And where were the Police to deter such killing? Why were they not on patrol in the backdam as any crime fighter would have undertaken as a basic step against revengeful violence?
The murder of Haresh is in retaliation for two young Black men being brutally murdered. That much we know. But it is not known who killed the two Black youths. It is just a guessing game of how they met their end.
Scientific investigation is needed. Nigel Hughes is right that foreign forensic investigation must be undertaken, and quickly.
Supporters of the Opposition are protesting for justice, but protests must not include encouragement for retaliation and destruction of property, and violence and injustice to others. One cannot protest and at the same time condone lynching and mob behaviour. That is worse than the behaviour of racist klansmen in Jim Crow America when innocent Blacks were murdered.
The father of one of the boys said the murder was not politically driven, and that it should not be linked to politics. He asked for peace, calm, and no violence (not in his son’s name, thank you Sir). So why are the thugs out on the road violently attacking Indians? And why are some politicians engaged in race-baiting to score points? The election is long over.
Race had nothing to do with the murder of the two youngsters. But the killing of young Haresh Singh; indeed, the violence and robberies since Sunday, are race-related. And they are encouraged by some politicians.
Seeking revenge without even knowing who did the killing is worse than Whites lynching Black Americans. Even racist Whites would have thought twice before taking an innocent life as revenge.
Politicians need to control their supporters, instead of setting them upon innocent people.
Haresh did not hurt anyone. It is unlikely that even his grandfather hurt anyone. So why kill this little boy? And why aren’t politicians that encouraged turmoil and mayhem condemning it? That kind of behaviour don’t belong in today’s civilised world, not even in apartheid South Africa or Jim Crow America.
It is troubling that there was no Police or military presence at the backdam. Who was protecting the crime scene? The Police should have expected trouble and be put on patrol. In my studies of criminology, when I did my doctorate in Sociology, we were taught to expect that kind of violent response when individuals are murdered in heightened ethnic tensions coming right after an election. The Police should have expected and planned for revenge killings. It is very disturbing watching videos that Police were standing right in front of criminals who were robbing and beating people and burning their vehicles. The Police did nothing. People complain of bias in Police response to the unspeakable violence against innocent people who used the road.
The Police say they have to wait for the completion of forensic investigation before issuing a statement. They should have pointed out that the seven individuals are only being held for questioning, and are not suspects at this time. This would have prevented the revenge killing of Haresh. It is like the Police set the family up for attack. The Police need to make a clear, unambiguous statement about the people in custody: whether they are suspects, or are just being questioned to find the real culprits. The families of the seven should be immediately protected, as those of us who study criminology would have advised. White man would have done that in the ABCE countries.
The Government promised a thorough investigation. The President approached the problem maturely, and spoke confidently, promising the perpetrator of that heinous crime would be brought to justice. What more do politicians need? One must be patient with the investigation. Rein in the thugs who are using the killing as opportunity to enrich themselves by looting and burning.
At any rate, seven individuals are in custody for questioning. It is a Police investigation. The Police don’t know who did the killing, nor what is the motive behind the killing, and whether it is related to praedial larceny. The Police said they are gathering evidence. We must wait till they complete their investigation.
We now need a forensic investigation into the killings of the two African youths and the lynching of the Indian youth in an act of senseless rage. What if the killer(s) of the two youngsters was not Indian, and the attack on the two youths was not related to coconuts? Wouldn’t an innocent life have been taken?
The public must join in condemning, in the strongest words possible, this vengeful lynching, and call on politicians to act responsibly and let the Police do their work in the three killings and the beatings and robberies and any molestations.
Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram
