[Reader-list] Shahidul Alam detained by Indian Border Security Force

[Ravi Agarwal]

Dear all,

I am not aware of the details of the case, besides what I have read, but
know that Shahidul Alam is a well known and fine photographer and artist,
who has done much to support the cause of photography from a Southern
perspective, though his organisation. His work is well known. I think that I
would find it hard to beleive that he is doing something that needs him to
be detained by any police. Many years ago, I too unwittingly crossed the
India Bangaldesh border without realising it.

In any case, we should not use this as a volleying point of our politics,
whatever they may be. We need to be restrained in talking about people we do
not know, without knowing any details of specifics, and I believe any
restraint of people's right to express and freely so, needs to be questioned
and resisted, no matter what point of view they represent.

There is a plea to protest his detention, and that is what needs to be
engaged with, nothing else. If people do not support that, they do not have
to.

best
ravi agarwal

On Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 1:42 PM, A.K. Malik <akmalik45 at yahoo.com> wrote:

>
> Dear Rajenji,
>              It is our perceptions which decide who is guilty and who is
> innocent. The entire para-military forces are dubbed rapists in Kashmir for
> a few stray incidents.It seems some of us are more concerned about Human
> Rights of Pakistanis,Bangladeshis than of our own countrymen.
> I do not know the complete facts of the case. If the BSF has really crossed
> over to Bangladesh and detained Shahidul Alam, then it is of concern. On the
> other hand if he has illegally crossed over to our side and then was
> detained, why anyone should bother unless it has been innocuous or beyond
> the control of the person concerned.
> Labelling the Border forces killers of innocent people without any proof is
> really doing injustice to those who are protecting our lives at the cost of
> their own lives.
> Regards,
>
> (A.K.MALIK)
>