Almost a month after a Mumbai court pronounced its verdict and sentenced Keenan and Reuben’s murderers to life imprisonment, Anushka Jain spoke to Mr Valerian Santos, Keenan Santos’s father, on the issue of women’s safety, police sensitization, how he dealt with the delays during the trial and a lot more. Below are the transcripts of the interview…
Your son today is a metaphor for men who fight for protecting women. Do you think now people are sensitized enough towards the safety of women?
I feel that there is a lot that has to be done when women security is concerned. When the incident (of Keenan’s death) happened, we had asked for section 345 and 554 to be made non-bailable offenses, which was done by the government only after a lot of persuasion from us.
First of all, all the police stations should be sensitized. When a woman goes to lodge a complaint, they should first register the FIR and take action on that. We are trying to do all that and, in fact, after getting justice, it is not the end of the road for us,but the beginning of the journey. We’re trying to do something for the society.
Are the police, according to you, sensitized enough to deal with issues of women’s safety?
See, there are good policemen and bad policemen.
A policeman should register a complaint immediately, when someone complains without someone else coming to help them. The police should be helpful to the citizens, they should be helpful, especially to the women of our country and should not be biased. Their mindset has to be changed. For example, sometimes the police officers only point fingers on the victims such as why were they at such a spot, at such a time, or wearing an apparel. I don’t think such questions should be asked by the police, they should simply do what their duty is.
There is also a need to educate our public about our laws and their rights because most of the women in our country are not aware of their rights. They do not know that, for example, if there’s a complaint to be registered by a woman or even a complaint against a woman, after 7 pm, they do not need to go to the police station they can call the police to their homes only.
I even believe that beauty products should illuminate people through these advertisements about laws which go to the corners of India and can reach the rural women also.
Keenan and Reuben
Often when women are subjected to brutality, their attire is brought under the limelight. How do you look at it?
I never blame a woman’s attire and I don’t believe in something like that. You see, even children of 3 years old, are being molested or raped, women in saree, burkha, or salwar kameez are also attacked so it has nothing to do with the attire. It’s all in the mindset, which has to change. It has nothing to do with the attire of anybody. I am totally against the saying that the attire or behaviour of a woman is responsible for what is happening. It is the mindset of males that has to change.
How did you deal with the times when the case was delayed, with convicts not being produced in the court and defense lawyers being absent?
I have said this on print media many times that a lot has to be done on the law side also.
First of all, when one says ‘fast track’ court, it should have a meaning. The word ‘fast’ should stand for what it means. We had our case first in Sewri, where for more than one and a half year nothing happened and then it was shifted to Bombay Sessions court. There, after the hearing started, we were even given assurances by the then Chief Minister, however, we received the verdict after four and a half years, even though we hustled and ran around to the courts, which is, honestly, very difficult for a common man to do. Many times at Sewri, the accused were not produced in the court. They would say that the police officer is busy with some ‘Bandobast’ duty or some special VIP duties, but such things should not come in the way of the court. There should be a set of policemen kept only for this purpose.
But the most irritating thing was the unavailability of the lawyers. Sometimes the lawyers of the defense wouldn’t be able to attend the court for some reason. The court should give a specific time limit when they are adjourning the court for a new session and for the lawyers to be present in the court.
You’ve been vocal about the threats you have received. What, according to you, should the government do for protecting the families of the victims and witnesses?
I think the government should give some police protection. When the CP came to know about the threats he assigned a local police station to send a police officer with me every time I go to court. However, this police officer only came with me twice. After that I did not want him because I didn’t want to waste his time. But yes, for the victims’ families and for the witnesses, they should give police protection. When, as part of a fashion, there is a full fleet of policemen giving protection to one politician, protection should be given to the common man, victim’s family and witnesses in a case. Protection should be there, especially in cases of rape and the like, so that there is no intimidation to the witnesses. Even in our case people tried to intimidate our witness, however, we all stood firm and nothing happened. But a lot of times people may get frightened and some may be rendered helpless.
Mr Santos, the night this incident happened, not a single person stepped ahead to help, which is quite opposite to what you have taught your kids…
I can never see injustice, never. If I’ve ever spotted trouble, even on the roads, then I do go and intervene. It has always been so with me and Keenan has seen this. So, when he was young, most of the times we would go out together and he would see me in such incidences, helping if someone is getting harassed or something else. So I think that had stayed with him.
I have always told my boys and continue to tell them that if they see someone in trouble, they should go and help them. Their primary instinct in them, as a human being, should be to go and help another human being in trouble. I have believed that if you have that principle you are a true human being, otherwise you are very selfish.
If you speak of the repercussions that can come due to helping someone, like in this case, it could be death and even severe injury. But maximum death. I believe that a person could die in infancy, as a teen, adult, or in old age. Death is inevitable. So, why be afraid of death and why not instead help someone so that you contribute to the world? After we die, the soul only goes ahead into the heaven, so why not help somebody instead of just caring about our body.
Is there a ray of hope out on the streets, now? Are people more helpful and cooperative?
It has changed now, but one more thing I want is that people’s tendency to help should increase.
At the time this incident happened, there were a lot of plant pots, tables, etc., around, which could have been thrown at the culprits to stop them. I think even if 4 to 5 people had come ahead to reprimand them a bit, I’m very sure they would have had ran away. Had there been people who had come forward, the two could have been saved. But I think that now there is some hope that some change will come.
Today, the media and the judiciary are playing a very active role, however, the legislature has to buck up before another Keenan and Reuben happens and has to stop delaying everything. They should make everything faster and more stringent because, as the case delays, the criminals are emboldened to threaten more people.
By Anushka Jain
Tags: Keenan and Reuben Keenan and Reuben murders Keenan Santos Valerian Santos
