Ahmedabad, 14 February 2013

Reading the news about the tunnel dug up by the Sabarmati Jail inmates, I was shocked, like most others. This incident, the brain child of the bomb blast accused, surfaced a myriad of memories of my encounter with them. As a part of my Dental Education at Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, I had to conduct dental checkup and treatment at the Sabarmati Jail. Thus, I had visited the jail, along with a colleague in December 2010.

At the main gate, we were welcomed by a smiling cop, who soon asked us to deposit our phones and checked our bags thoroughly. The security measures looked good enough. The policeman accompanying us to the in-house clinic showed us the jail complex and it appeared pretty good and well-maintained, not resembling the frightening jails we are used to seeing in movies. As soon as we reached the clinic, we were told that there would be two batches of inmates coming to us.

We started examining and treating the patients of the first batch. Most of them cut out a sorry figure for themselves and we instantly felt pity for them. Some folded their hands to thank us, some had tears at the corner of their eyes and narrated the reason for being there which we had to cut short for time constraints. Most of them were very obedient. But we could feel that the atmosphere was getting really depressing as most of them tried to pour their hearts out as they rarely came across a person from the outside world. Soon the first batch of inmates was over and we were served snacks and some important pieces of advice.

We were told to handle the next batch of inmates with care and advised not to indulge in any sort of argument with them. It seemed as if they were the VIPs among the inmates. We inquired as to who exactly comprised of this esteemed batch of inmates. We were told that these special inmates were actually the Bomb Blast and Terror accused. What a feeling that was! I could feel my blood boiling because I had personally experienced the Ahmedabad bomb blasts from close quarters but our ethics prevented us from differentiating among patients of holding a grudge against anyone. Then walked in the first patient of the second batch. He was tall, well built and had a frightening look. He simply came and asked us for a couple of medicines. Amazingly he didn’t bother to consult us for his ailment and he knew the generic names of the medicines along with the dose he wanted! The next patient , who was undergoing the root canal treatment , spoke fluent English and he precisely knew about the stages of treatment that were completed and remaining. Having come across a lot of educated patients from all spheres, I am yet to see anyone with so much knowledge about the treatment as him. The third patient, on examination appeared totally normal, but kept demanding for medicines. On being denied, he gave us a threatening look, but soon cooled down and quietly walked away. There were around a dozen more of them. All of them were remarkably intelligent. But the most striking feature was their cold-blooded candour. Their behaviour seemed to emanate a cocktail of aggression and pride. They looked a totally different breed than the earlier inmates who looked feeble, gullible and perennially repenting their crimes!

On further inquiry, we were told that these inmates keep the police constantly on their toes with their demands, failing which their lawyers are more than eager to file writ petitions in the courts for their human rights. They are always on the prowl for excuses to find a reason to go outside the jail complex to meet their human rights requirements.

So, frankly, I was shocked on learning about the incident, but not surprised! Having had a glimpse of their intellect and having seen their mindset and potential in the form of the bomb blasts, this was bound to happen, sooner or later!

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