The execution of the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts convict, Yakub Memon, has led to myriad opinions coming out from all quarters. Numerous questions are being raised, ranging from the timing of the hanging to the relevance of capital punishment in a democracy.

An open letter by an anonymous police officer to the all those who are opposing Yakub Memon's execution. He signs off as thulla.

Dear "Intelligentsia" of India,


I am not a TV panelist. I am not a “human rights” activist. I am not a lawyer. I am not a political commentator. I am not a best-selling author. I am not the son or grandson of a famous man. I am an aam aadmi. More than an aam aadmi, I am an officer in the Indian Police force. And I am writing this letter to all of you, after seeing your robust defence of a terrorist.

Why I mention who I am is important because unlike all of you, I don’t sit in plush AC offices and write editorials seeking clemency for a murderer. Nor do I visit TV studios and shout myself hoarse. Instead I meet such killers every single day. But I don’t meet them for cocktail parties or at press conferences (like some of you do).

A file photo of 1993 Mumbai blast | Source: India TV News 

I meet them on the road, in the streets, with weapons in their arms and hate in their eyes. I have been in situations with them where they would not hesitate a single moment before pulling the trigger on me, but I have to consider all the ramifications like "human rights", "due process" and "fake encounter" before I save my life and of the innocent people around me.

Given the above I believe I am in a far better position to comment on a mass murderer like Yakub Memon than any of you are.

To defend this criminal, multitudes of arguments have been put forth by what are now called "Adarsh Liberals" in our society. Luckily, almost no one has pleaded that he is innocent. The situation is such that Indians have to be grateful to our "Intelligentsia" for such small mercies.