Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Inhuman act

The killing of Ramankutty Maniappan, an innocent BRO worker, by suspected Taliban members reveals the character of the forces they represent. This inhuman act deserves to be condemned in the strongest terms possible. India should not take it lying down. It has to do its utmost to bring the killers to justice swiftly.

J.S. Acharya,
Hyderabad

The killing is a brutal act aimed at forcing India to stop the construction of the Zeranj-Delaram road project in Afghanistan.

Narayanaswamy Visalakshmi,
Villupuram, T.N.

The killers have shown themselves up as cowards. The Government in Kabul must own up responsibility for the death of the driver since it did not provide enough security.

V.P. Damodar,
Pune

The saddest part of the episode is that the Centre did not make serious efforts to negotiate with the kidnappers. At least now, the Government should call back all Indians working in Afghanistan.

N. Jayaraj,
Chennai

A son of this country has been killed in a distant land while performing his duty. Today, his employer, the Border Roads Organisation, and the Centre have announced Rs. 10 lakh as compensation. But where were they when he was kidnapped? No serious effort was made to free him. No BRO official found it necessary to visit Maniappan's family and extend support at this crucial time.

Dhanashree Sontakke,
Chennai

As in the past, the Centre has described the killing as a heinous act and stopped at that. That is because Maniappan is an ordinary individual. Had the son or daughter of a VIP been in the same situation, the Government's approach would have been different. In India, all are equal but some are more equal than others.

Ramesh K.S.,
Kottayam, Kerala

The innocent driver could have been saved had the Government acted swiftly.

Ullas Krishnan. K,
Thrissur, Kerala

There must be a motive for any crime. The Taliban and Osama bin Laden will be only too happy to have the Afghan-Iran road relaid. It was only at the request of the Afghan Government that the BRO was working on the project and therefore there is no reason for Kabul to be displeased. So, who is responsible for the killing?

Y. Collison,
Chennai

In his letter, (Nov. 24) Ashok Viswanath wants to know who was responsible for Maniappan's death. I have no doubt that Muslim fundamentalists were responsible for this dastardly act. They are a disgrace to the great religion of Islam. As a member of the silent Muslim majority of the world who do not support the fanatics, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the driver's family.

M. Riaz Hasan,
Hyderabad

The killing by suspected Taliban extremists is shocking. It is strange that these elements are opposed to the development of their own land and can kill an innocent person to achieve their goal.

J.M. Manchanda,
New Delhi

The Centre's rather indifferent response to the abduction and killing and the silence of a majority of our leaders are saddening. Such an attitude only strengthens the view that ordinary citizens figure very low in the priority of our leaders.

Anil K. Joshi,
Ranikhet, Uttaranchal

The episode proves that violence has not abated in Afghanistan. It is an irony that the Indira Gandhi peace prize is to be given to the President of that country.

R.P. Rajan,
Chennai

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