civil unrest at Stockholm and police brutally assaulted in Triplicane.......

Syria is caught in a quagmire of political and social unrest; Egypt and Tunisia saw uprisings; trouble brewed in  Yemen, Bahrain, Libya; Somalia, Sudan, Eritrea are war-torn; so also is Afghan; there is trouble in Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.  In India there are different militant group, there have been bombings killing and maiming innocents…….. sad so much of blood spilling in the modern World !

Where is peace ? – there is the Global Peace Index (GPI), an attempt to measure the relative position of nations' and regions' peacefulness. It is the product of Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) and developed in consultation with an international panel of peace experts from peace institutes and think-tanks with data collected and collated by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The list was launched first in May 2007, then continued yearly. It is claimed to be the first study to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness. It ranks 158 countries (up from 121 in 2007).  Surprised to read of Ireland in top 10.  Switzerland  was in the top 10th place; I had thought that to be the most safe and peaceful Nation.  It is understood that its placing was due to  mandatory military service and the amount of weapons they export (relative to its size).

Stockholm is in news for wrong reasons.  The capital of Sweden is also its most populous city being home to approximately 22% of Sweden's population.  The Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, borders Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel.  This  constitutional monarchy is known for its peace for centuries.  Sweden has the world's eighth highest per capita income and is known for its facilities in education and research. 

There is news that the nearly week-long spate of rioting spread outside Stockholm but authorities said police reinforcements sent to the Swedish capital had reduced the violence there, even though dozens of youths set cars and a recycling station ablaze. The rioting – set off earlier this month by the police shooting of a 69-year-old man – continued for a sixth night in mainly poor immigrant areas in Stockholm. In a country with a reputation for openness, tolerance and a model welfare state, the rioting has exposed a fault-line between a well-off majority and a minority – often young people with immigrant backgrounds – who are poorly educated, cannot find work and feel pushed to the edge of society. The spree of destruction has seen masked youths vandalise schools, libraries and police stations, setting cars alight and hurling stones at police and firefighters.

The scale of riots  might pale in comparison  to the disturbances seen in London and Paris in recent years and there have been almost no injuries. But the violence – with more than 100 cars set ablaze this week – has shocked a nation that has long taken pride in its generous social safety net. Some see it as the result of Govt policy of allowing the the heavy wave of immigration from Syria and other war-torn countries. Youth unemployment is especially high in neighborhoods such as the ones where the riots have taken place, home to asylum seekers from Iraq to Somalia, Afghanistan and Latin America. The Country has had a policy of welcoming asylum seekers from war-torn countries and perhaps is paying for that.

The gap between rich and poor in Sweden is growing faster than in any other major nation, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, although absolute poverty remains uncommon……….and there are lots of lessons to be learnt by us from situations like these, though happening far away and in far different conditions…….

Here is another incident totally unrelated but which the Society must abhor……. Today’s Chennai edition papers report that a police head constable is battling for life after he was stabbed in the neck with a knife by a suspect at Chellammal Thottam in Ice House, Triplicane on Friday afternoon. The policeman had gone to question the man, who had recently been released from prison, in connection with a burglary. The attack took place around 2 p.m. at the crowded locality in Ice House when C. Thiyagarajan (48), attached to the crime section of Kotturpuram police station, went to question Vimal Raj alias ‘Psycho’ Vimal (20). He is a known offender involved in burglaries and assault cases. He was released from Puzhal prison on May 1. He had been arrested by Ice House police on various charges, including attempt to murder. Thiyagarajan was in mufti.

“Thiyagarajan asked him some questions as part of an investigation into a burglary case reported in Kotturpuram police limits in which Vimal is suspected to be involved. This irked Vimal who stabbed Thiyagarajan as the latter prepared to leave on his motorcycle,” said a policeman attached to the Kotturpuram police station. The constable was wounded on the left side of the neck and collapsed on the spot. Residents rushed to his aid while Vimal fled the spot with the murder weapon. Thiyagarajan was rushed to the Government Royapettah Hospital and suffered heavy blood loss. After receiving first-aid, he was shifted to the Apollo Hospitals on Greams Road around 5.30 p.m. “There was no heart beat when he was brought in. Blood vessels going to the brain were damaged in the attack. He underwent a major surgery which got over at 9.30 p.m. and continues to be in an extremely critical state,” said a source at Apollo. A native of Madurai, Thiyagarajan joined the police force in 1988 and served in various areas including city traffic and was posted to the Kotturpuram station three years ago. He resides with his wife, son and daughter at the TP Chatiram police quarters.

Ice House police arrested Vimal within hours of the attack and he is being questioned. Sad to read of this, a police officer being attacked brutally by a rowdy charge-sheeter and pools of blood were shown on TV. Police men struggle it out ~ only when law and order is maintained, the residents can peacefully live in a Society. Sad that those who are out to protect you and who spend long hours on duty neglecting their own health and family are tormented and not treated properly.

with regards – S. Sampathkumar.

25th May 2013.