http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=2&theme=&usrsess=1&id=196843
A role reversal that saved a life... Binoy Valsan KOTA/JAIPUR, March 27: Lost amidst the chaos and violence of last year's Gujjar agitation is an untold story of bravery and camaraderie between the police and a community of outlaws called Kanjars of Jhulmi village in the rural belt of Kota district, Rajasthan. In a rare example of role reversal, a group of Kanjar youths fought with a violent Gujjar mob and saved the life of a policeman who was about to be burnt alive inside the Jhulmi police outpost on 30 May, 2007. Angered and frustrated over the denial of ST status by the state government, the Gujjars were determined to raze down the isolated police outpost and take the life of any policeman who dared to stand in their way on that fateful night. However, they were in for a surprise when the men in khakee opted to step back and resistance emerged in the form of local Kanjar youths. "If it was not for those Kanjars we would have lost both the outpost and also one of our men who was about to be burnt alive. The height of irony is that these Kanjars themselves are considered a community of robbers, dacoits and anti-social elements", said Mr Ravinder Singh, SHO Suket police station. The Jhulmi village falls under the limits of Suket police station. Mr Kamal Singh Gujjar (who himself belongs to the Gujjar community), a constable who was on duty at the outpost on the night of 30 May along with four other policemen recounted with horror to The Statesman the tale of a mob of almost 50 Gujjars armed with swords and sticks barging into the compound and attacking them. Within minutes they took over the outpost and the policemen had no option but to jump over the compound wall and flee into the nearby Kanjar settlement. "Initially I tried to pacify them since I am also a Gujjar but they were in no mood to listen to me and started manhandling us. We realised that it was a lost cause from our side when we saw them carrying petrol and kerosene cans", recollected Mr KS Gujjar. However, Mr Ramananth Choudhury, another constable on duty at the outpost was unable to escape and fell into the hands of Gujjars. He was badly beaten up and was doused with petrol to be burnt alive when as many as 40 Kanjar youths with sticks and knives scaled the boundary wall of the outpost and charged at the Gujjars. They managed to overpower the Gujjars forcing them to retreat thereby saving Mr Ramananth Choudhury's life and also the outpost. "Usually the Kanjars themselves flee their huts when they see policemen coming towards their settlement. But that night they not only gave refuge to the constables who ran into their settlement and but also decided to stand up and fight on their behalf," said Mr Ramananth Choudhury. Almost one year down the line, situation in Jhulmi has evolved to such an extent that a strong bond of understanding has developed between the Kanjars and the men in uniform. The local police have managed to convince many Kanjars to give up their life of crime and seek employment in various Kota stone quarries in the vicinity. The policemen themselves recommend these Kanjars to the contractors and members from other communities who are often apprehensive of hiring anyone from the Kanjar community. Motivational camps are being conducted on a regular basis in the Kanjar settlements to make them realise the importance of educating their children and giving up their anti social activities to lead a life of dignity. Though listed as a Scheduled Caste, illiteracy, poverty and severe social discrimination have always prevented the Kanjar community from reaping the benefits of reservation. "The police have made us understand that giving up crime is the only way to redeem our community from the antisocial tag. We now hope that atleast our next generation will be able to lead a decent life", said Mr Roopchand who was also part of the Kanjar rescue team on that fateful night. The Rajasthan police have now also decided to project Jhulmi as an example to other Kanjar settlements in Jhalawar district and other parts of Kota in an attempt to reform them and as a result more than 100 Kanjars from 10 settlements in Jhalawar district who were wanted by the police in a number of cases of dacoity and robbery surrendered before the law recently.
