|
|
|
  |
| Sunday, 6 March 2005 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Telling Tales The mysterious tyre The Minister's Volvo was moving at lightning speed towards the public rally being held for the forthcoming election. It swerved unexpectedly and collided with a parapet wall by the side of the main road. STF guards in the 'Defender' in front braked with a screech, jumped out of the vehicle and ran towards the minister with their weapons drawn. Having found the minister, the bodyguard and the driver unharmed, they were relieved.
The driver's statement caused the police to go in for further investigation. He had seen a tyre rolling across the main road in front of the car forcing him to swerve. The tyre found opposite the car, was an old used one which according to the findings of the police had moved from left to the right side of the road. There was a by road on the left which sloped down to the main road. There were shanties on the top of the road. The unending rows of wooden houses stood like chests with tar sheets held by old tyres to prevent the roofs from being blown away. Cordoned The police and the forces cordoned off the area, with the intention of finding more about this unidentified tyre. An announcement was made to the effect that this incident, was an attempt to kill the minister. Meanwhile the minister, who attended the public rally in his damaged car, received a hero's welcome. "I am committed to serve the public. No one can kill me because I am a just man and an honest politician. Even if I were to lose my life, I'll do my duty towards my people and my country." Even political opponents and the people who were against him because of bribery, corruption sympathised with him. The investigations were in progress, the police and army searched the place to find any clue about the mysterious tyre. The IGP and Army chief were also involved in the investigations. They made a joint statement, to the newspapers. "According to the findings we are convinced that this could be a terrorist attack. There are suspects in these shanties. We are not giving up our attempts to bring the criminals to book." This statement was splashed on the front pages of some of the newspapers and were the headlines in the electronic media. Failed Sniffer dogs and modern gadgets had failed to dig out any further clues. There were small tyres on all the roofs of the shanties. They could not suspect anyone. A motor garage at the far end of the shanty, had different kinds of new tyres. The owner and worker were questioned minutely as to whether somebody had bought used tyres from the garage. The workers couldn't do any work the whole day, as they were questioned over and over again by the police and the army. The workers were not paid that day, as they couldn't satisfy the demands of their boss. Checked Slum dwellers were not even allowed to go out of their homes as the investigation was in progress. Their houses were checked both by the police and sniffer dogs. The hourly news bulletins on TV and radio constantly telecast and broadcast the latest news of the incident. Kandasami, a fairly old man, who worked at the garage, was tired of answering the police and the army and was returning home. He was the father of a son of about ten years. Kanda's son had been pestering him to bring him a small tyre of a motorbike or a car as most of his friends had tyres and at times they played with them. Kanda believed that running along with a tyre would tire the boy and eventually send him to a heart clinic. So Kanda never allowed his son to play with tyres. But the boy played with his friends' tyres secretly. So Kanda was happy that his decision, saved his son, not only from heart disease but also from the accusation of this tyre incident. He was quite proud of himself for his wisdom. Although most of the slum dwellers were scared about the incident, he was quite cool. He had a cup of tea at the boutique by the road leading to the shanties and spoke with the crowd about the latest development. The others were frightened, because they had experienced the horror of being taken into custody under suspicion, even without proper evidence. The small radio at the boutique was switched off and everyone hurried to their homes. No sooner had Kanda gone home, his wife complained that their son had fever. Fever, malaria and dengue were common in that area. The tyres on the roofs and all over the place were breeding spots for mosquitoes. Kanda was not scared of fever but he knew that it was impossible to take the boy to the doctor, as there was high security and curfew. Yet Kanda approached a policeman on guard and pleaded to take the boy to a doctor. "Idiot go home. Don't you know that there is a curfew in force? We are also paying for your sins. You fool..." "Please sir, we are innocent people. Though we are poor we are respectable." "Respectable, my foot! You are going to be shot..." Kanda turned back. He knew even if he was killed the policeman could say that Kanda acted against the Emergency Law. The news of the minister had taken centre stage on all TV channels. The news report of each channel was different to the other. When one said that it was an attempt of murder by the opposition, the other said that it was a terrorist act. The minister was shown on the National Channel and he was interviewed. Nadan who was watching the TV news invited Kanda who was passing by to watch the news. "Sir how would you comment on the morning's unexpected accident?" "It was not an accident. It was an attempt and a trap to destroy me. I know this is a mean act of the opponents. They are scared. I would have a massive victory in the forth-coming election. I know the people of this country love me. They need me. They sympathise with me in this crucial hour", the Minister told the interviewer. "Is that so?" Kanda asked mockingly, adding. "All these could be determined or changed by the vote, which is very powerful during the election. Politicians beg for votes and when they are vested with power, the innocent voters become strangers and have to go after them." "Yes when we have the authority during the elections, such opportunists should be taught a lesson", agreed Kanda. "Sri Lankans are very funny and unbelievably naive as they forget everything in a few days. Which is a blessing for the politicians. Even a murder or a massacre is easily be forgotten." Kanda's wife had given the boy a Panadol but it didn't answer. The boy didn't sleep until midnight. Kanda knew that the boy was seriously ill. The boy started mumbling. "I'm scared... I'm scared..." Kanda who thought that the boy was frightened of the fever went to his neighbour to borrow more medicine. His wife was caressing the boy's head. "Putha don't be scared, You'll be o.k. Why are you scared? Tell me anything you want." "No Amma. I am frightened that the police will take me with them." "No. The police have come for investigations. They won't harm children. Besides we are innocent my dear." "Are you sure they won't?" "No. Don't you worry." "If I tell this will, Appa punish me?" "No Krishna, why should he punish you?" Yet Kanda's wife never dreamt of hearing the terrifying news. "Amma this morning, as I didn't go to school, I was just walking when suddenly, I saw Bala's tyre by the side of his house. "I used to play with it. My friends know I play with tyres secretly without being seen by the two of you. "I was thrilled running along the road with this tyre. Nobody noticed me playing with that. But it went faster and faster. "I couldn't control it. It ran down the slope and I ran away home. Will the police catch me Amma?" "No my dear even if the tyre speaks against you, we will never betray you." The boy put his arms around his mother full of confidence and relief.
|
|
| News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Politics | Produced by Lake House |
The car and the wall were both damaged. The loud noise drew passersby
to the vicinity. The traffic police came on the scene almost at once. News
reporters and media personnel were busy taking photographs and collecting
details to colour their reports. The minister went with his guards, while
the police carried out the investigation. 
