In all the assassination cases in India, there are certain things in common. The leaders refused to have special security even though they were warned in advance about the seriousness of the situation. The reactions were terrible with killing and counter killing by mutually opponent groups. Later it was found that the killers were highly motivated by extreme brain washing by those who hold grudge against those killed.
But now, the times have changed. The democratically elected leaders also have full security and protection at par with dictators. Yet, they fall prey to assassin’s bullets. We shall see in this short fiction the assassination attempts on a democratically elected leader and subsequent fall out thereof.
THE STORY:
The intelligence reports were quite alarming!
The latest reports informed that the suicide squads of the inland terrorist groups have zeroed in for a master plan to kill the mass leader and the Head of the State Mr X.
The matter was discussed in a closeted cabinet meeting.
“My beloved leader Sir, (to mention the name of the leader is totally prohibited because it is considered a disrespect to the beloved leader). We shall give our lives to save you. Can anybody touch you?” Almost all the ministerial colleagues assured in chorus.
“Our most beloved Sir” the deputy chief Ramsingh addressed him. Among all the ministers, he was the only one who could talk face to face with the chief. “I would suggest you not to come out for some days. You may address any function through direct relay of T.V.”
The chief had a hearty laugh. “Do you mean I am a coward? Have you forgotten the fact Mahatmaji refused to have security? I am a follower of Gandhi and belong to that category of leaders. If I die for the country. Let me do so because I take pride in dying in that fashion. So let me not hide in my den. Let me travel as usual.” So saying, he concluded the cabinet meeting and went to his cabin to attend to other routine works.
The imminent event happened within the next two days. Mr X was attending an official function which was to take place in an auditorium. The function was to declare open a picture of Gandhi. When he was walking the ramp to reach the podium, a young man in his twenties appeared from nowhere and bullets from his machine gun pierced his body and tore it into pieces. The improved modern technology made it possible that the assassination was telecast live. The assassin did not waste his time in shooting himself to death.
The satellite televisions did not waste any time and telecast the bodies of both the assassinated and the assassin repeatedly.
The party workers were provoked immediately. Arson and vandalism were leashed out with immediate effect. Shortly, the State was under the control of antisocial elements, rowdies and hooligans. Unable to bear the loss, some fanatic members burnt themselves to death. The entire State was in a State of chaos.
Suddenly all the channels stopped their relays. Only an announcement, “Please stand for an important announcement” was telecast. After repeating for nearly fifty times, they started telecasting “Our leader is not dead, he is very much alive.” They repeated the announcement again and again. Radios also announced the same massage. All the available wireless, electronic media and satellite channels repeatedly announced “Our beloved leader will appear and address the people of the State.”
The senseless violence came to a halt. Yes, finally the Head of the State appeared on T.V and other media. With folded hands he thanked the public for their massive support.
“My dearest brethren, you are the blood of my blood, you are the nerves of my nerves. Nothing has happened to me and I have come out successfully from the treacherous murder attempt of our opponents, who are actually cowards. It is not so easy to take away the life of your beloved leader” he declared.
Immediately the violent mood was converted as mood of joy and festivities.
But how did he escape the assassination attempt?
The secret became public in a day or two. The person killed was a replica of Mr X whose name was Kasi who has represented him on various occasions in the past also.
“People just mistake Kasi as me. When it involves only ribbon cutting without inviting any lecture he used to duplicate me,
“This time, I told him not to go because intelligence reports were totally adverse, but he refused and went to represent me. That brought his end.”So saying to his close aides he wiped off tears (!) flowing down from his eyes.
As a sop, he gave Rupees 50 million to Kasi’s family and 1 million each to the families of those who self- immolated, numbering to nearly 8.Thus, the voices against the gory deaths of 9 innocents were silenced
But there were some voices of discontent as reflected in some television talk shows. Speakers were raising objection to the Head of the State deputing another man on his behalf thereby sacrificing an innocent life to save himself. Some street plays were held to condemn the incident. People compared Kasi to “Aravan”, a character in Mahabharatha who was sacrificed to save the lives of Pandavas, the five brothers. They portrayed innocent people who sacrificed their lives by immolating themselves to fire beetles who just jump into fire and die, being attracted by it. Opposition leaders asked, “Is it the way for the leader to protect himself especially when he declares himself as a follower of Mahathma Gandhi who boldly, with open chest faced bullets?”
Mr X pooh-poohed the entire opposition and continued his work. Power corrupts, absolute power absolutely. By the enormous power he possessed he silenced all the voices who opposed him.
Everything was silent, rather appeared silent for some months.
He re-started visiting his concubine’s residence, of course, with all his security official car etc.
He took his seat in the luxurious sofa, which he gifted to his sweet heart wearing a ‘lungi’ (coloured dhoti) and with bear chest. “Sweet heart, please give me a cup of milk”. His voice was so sweet that it showed the other side of his personality which none of his colleagues nor party workers could ever hear. “Okay darling, why milk? I shall send badham keer” which meant sweetened milk with almond “I shall send through Sita, my servant maid. I have to go to bath room”. So saying, she gave him a deep kiss and left.
In five minutes, her maid brought the keer. On seeing that young and beautiful maid,the leader was surprised. “Oh, you are here! How are you? Have you spent all the money I gave?” he asked taking the cup in his hands.
“I am fine sir” so saying she fell to his feet and caught hold of his feet with both the hands.
“Okay, you leave my foot”, he shouted.
But she did leave nor let loose her grip.
In a split of a second she pressed a button affixed to the belt in her lap.
There was a big explosion. The leader and the servant maid were torn into pieces.
The whole room came down with a huge noise.
The lady who was in the bath room was also buried in the debris of the bath room.
Some security staff also were killed in the blast.
Thus the story of the great leader came to an end.
The incident was relayed by all satellite T.V stations. But the pity was that none believed it. “He will not die, He will come back as we saw in the past,” they hoped.
Satellites have to work hard by showing his body twice or thrice to make them believe. There were no self-immolation, no protests because everything were done already.
The intelligence chief was reporting to the cabinet. The earlier deputy chief Mr Ramsingh had become the chief and presided over that meeting.
“Sir the suicide bomber was the second wife of Kasi. Young and beautiful, she was married to him just two years back. We all know that Kasi was killed ten months back being mistaken as Mr X. The Government gave huge compensation. She was not given any share in it. Somebody had totally brainwashed her to avenge her husband’s death. She was very strongly motivated. The trainer knew very well that the chief would be casual in his concubine’s house. Hence he chose that place for assassination. Kasi’s second wife Sita joined there as a maid and was waiting for the opportunity. She became a human bomb to kill him instantly.
Only good thing is, this time there was no aravan to substitute Mr X nor fire-beetles to self-immolate,” he concluded.
After a pause, he continued, “But we do not know the main conspirator who motivated her to take revenge. No doubt, some terror group has supplied the arms, but there is a master mind behind the entire conspiracy. We are trying through various ways, but so far no clue,” he concluded with a deep sigh.
There was a mysterious smile in the countenance of the chief Mr Ramsingh which none noticed.
Three months later:
“Look, this is the photograph of the fellow who mercilessly killed your mother and the head. Should not you avenge it?”
The concubine’s son was getting brain washed by somebody who was showing him the photograph of present chief Ramsingh.
The game of brain washing goes on and on.
