My name is Sarnath Giri, aged 54 years and son of late Shyam Sundar Giri. I am a native resident of village Khalispur under Phulpur police station in Varanasi district. I have studied till standard 10. I was a homeguard in company number 2, but due to a boil/cyst in my leg, I became handicapped and thus lost my job.
I have three married daughters and 2 sons namely Rohit Giri, 15, and Arvind Giri, 12. Since, my brother late Rajvanshi Giri was issueless, he had adopted my elder son Rohit.
The incident of July 14, 2018 has left me shaken completely. I had gone to take bath in the house of Chaubey ji that morning, when 4 cops from Gaddi police station came by an SUV. Two of them were in plain clothes, while the other two were in uniform. They barged inside my house and started using foul language although my wife had become petrified already. By that time, I also returned and they started enquiring about my son Rohit, who was not at home, as he had gone to visit his sister in Ahmedabad.
However, the cops searched the entire house. Then, they asked about our younger son and we told them that he had gone to school. The cops asked us to call him home. When my wife went to school and told the teacher in charge about the entire incident, the teacher got angry and instead asked us to sent the cops to him. When my wife returned, the policemen asked for Arvind’s photograph, which we did not have. The cops left while threatening us that our son was a big criminal and that he should be produced at the earliest. We were really horrified and crying incessantly. The cops’ words that our son was a big criminal were ringing in our ears. On hearing this news, my elder brother Rajvanshi became ill and we could see big trouble at our doorsteps.
Since that day, the police started to exert more pressure and since Rohit was still away, we were helpless. It was getting increasingly difficult to spend our time. While, I was handicapped, I also had no other aide. Some people suggested me to produce Rohit before the police lest more charges could be slapped against him.
Then, I called Rohit back from our daughter’s place in Ahmedabad. I confined him to a room, beat him badly and asked him if he had done anything wrong. He broke down and said he hadn’t committed any mistake. I also started crying thinking that I was assaulting my son, whom I had brought up with so much love and care.
The following day on August 7, 2018, I took him to a Jaunpur court and produced him before the judge. The judge asked the police how come the minor had been implicated in the case. The cops retorted that we were of that sort only. The police of Gaddi and Kerakat also started to argue claiming the jurisdiction over the case. The police wanted to take away Rohit in handcuffs, which I objected to and said he would not flee. They were escorting him with them, while he was crying profusely, which was really agonizing for me. He was taken to the Jaunpur jail.
That night, we returned from Jaunpur as if we were lifeless and emotionless. We did not cook for many days and spend our time weeping. Pradeep Rajbhar, the son of Rajesh Rajbhar of Gajokhar village, who was also lodged in the same prison, gave his undergarments to Rohit. When Pradeep told me about it, I went to the prison and gave my son some clothes. He was lodged in barrack number 4. I used to visit him every third day. Every time, I visited him, he used to weep and seek his freedom from the jail. It was really painful for me to see him in such misery. My elder brother’s condition was also getting worse every day. I am unemployed and eking out a living somehow with farming.
I don’t know at whose behest, the police had framed my school going son and branded him a big criminal. I still wonder. His life and future has been ruined. They have charged him with loot, waylaying and firing 30 rounds in a fake encounter. How can a minor commit such a crime, I ask? He has been framed. Police is still not sure who Rohit is and where does he actually live. In its documents, the cops have at different places mentioned either mine or my elder brother’s name as Rohit’s father.
Later when I took him to court, the sub inspector asked who Rohit was. I pointed to my son. He claimed Rohit had been framed wrongly and I could sense that the policemen were also in remorse for including his name in the case by mistake.
I am always worried for my son. Rohit told me that he would not be able to study further, which pains me no end. A strange sense of fear has gripped me and consumed my thoughts completely. I don’t feel like going anywhere. I can’t sleep at night. My elder brother, who was my guardian, has also passed away.
I just want that my son is exonerated in the case and the person who is responsible for our tribulations gets punished. This incident has given us a lifelong despair.
Interviewer Farhat Shaba Khanam
Victim Sarnath Giri
Translated by Mr. Ashish Awasthi
