कभी वैलेंटाइन का गुलाब
तो कभी ईद का मुबारक़ चाँद
किसी धर्म निरपेक्षा सी तुम
आ जाती हो मेरे सामने
सॉरी, तुम नहीं आतीं
आती है सिर्फ़ तुम्हारी याद.
तुम्हारे लंबे घने बाल आज भी
ढक लेते हैं आकाश मेरा
कालिदास के मेघदूत से
दो कत्थई लट्टुओं सी
नीलाभ सागर में तैरती आंखे तुम्हारी
अक़्सर देखने लगती हैं मुझे
टकटकी लगाकर.
प्रेम हमारा शुक्ल पक्ष के चाँद सा
हुआ था षोडश कला युक्त
फिर क्यूँ मृतप्राय हो गया
नियम विरुद्ध असमय ही.
और वादे के बावज़ूद
तुम बन न पायीं रुक्मिणी
न ही रह पायीं राधा
और मीरा !
मीरा बनाना तो मुझे था नापसंद
कोमल भावनाओं के बीच
तुमने बना दिया मुझे
बस और बस तुम्हारा कनु !
#####
{From diary:: Most sensational Gold seizure from a notorious gang}
It was 2nd July 1989, a Sunday and rains in Mumbai are at its prime at that time of the year.
On phone ( no mobiles), I was instructed to reach near a city Cinema and wait for further instructions . After reaching again dialled residence of my boss and was told that he wanted me to remain where I was. After 30 minutes or so I noticed another senior from office along with two armed policemen swooping on a Premier 118 NE car parked there, which was marked by me along with its 4 suspicious looking occupants . I immediately joined the team.
These four persons alongwith the car were taken to nearby Police station and I was still trying to comprehend the matter. Later it was learnt that the persons in our custody were none other than notorious Tiger memon, Mohammad dossa, { later involved in 1993 mumbai blasts} alongwith two other characters and a huge gold consignment smuggled and being disposed off by these rogues was already in our 2nd team's possession at the nearby garrage cum residence. The said gold was taken to our office under police escort.
The gold seized in this case remains the biggest quantity till date by any Indian agency. This was 4520 gold bars worth 16 crores in 1989.
These notorious smugglers were detained under the COFEPOSA ACT within a record time during their remand period, lest they escape and become untraceable.
Later,they became main actors in 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.
As almost all know, this Tiger memon absconded to Pakistan in 1993. Mohammed Dossa recently held guilty by Mumbai court in that blast case died in hospital last month just before the quantum of punishment was to be declared by the Judge.
I rang up my boss to enquire whether any operations were to be carried out on that Sunday. The command came to reach his residence as quickly as possible. I took the first available train, the fastest mode of transport in Mumbai and reached. While waiting in drawing room, I was guessing about the possible job for the day that the boss entered and asked me to get another officer from control room along with weapon and jeep and rush to Dongri area to apprehend the wanted smuggler. It was to execute his detention order on him. I was briefed that an informer will meet in the vicinity and point out the wanted person who was absconding and I had to detain. I gathered that the person to be apprehended was one Jack, as known in the smugglers' circle , who was arrested six months back in a case of smuggling of huge silver consignment of 9000 kgs from Dubai to Karwar coast. Jack was 23 year old, well built tandel of the Arab Dhow that carried the contraband and was presently on bail from the court. I arranged help from the control room and met brother officer at decided place to complete the task at hand. It is an accepted fact that howsoever weak a person may be , he can get out of the grip of any person at least once. This fact was playing continuously on my mind. Here I was to detain a person who was much younger and fitter than me. What if he escaped! It would have been a big blot on my career!! As per plan, the informer pointed out the location of Jack. He was standing out of a restaurant chatting with one of his buddies near Chaar Null area, a known notorious place in Mumbai infested with drug dealers.I explained to my brother officer that the person to be apprehended should not escape at any cost and wanted him to closely follow me.We let the informer go after his role was over. I loaded my .38 bore S&W revolver and tucked under my belt. I walked upto Jack and putting my hand on his shoulder I uttered - 'Jack'.Hearing it, immediately he ducked and started running on the crowded road.I chased him but I noticed that the gap between us was increasing. My worst thought was going to be true and the guy was almost out of clutches.I took out the weapon and fired in the air.In the tense atmosphere, I myself could not hear the sound of fire but it had magical impact on Jack. He got jammed in his track and reaching him I caught him by collar. In the meantime another officer and the vehicle came, Jack was dumped into it for taking to office for further action. " Why did you try to run?"- I asked Jack "Sir, next week is festival and I did not want to miss." " What if bullet killed you?"- I said "Sorry Sir!" I reported the incident to boss who was obviously happy and patted on my back.Anyways I was happy that my fears did not come true!
गण के पीछे न तंत्र हो
जनता जिये स्वतंत्र
आओ मिलकर आज हम
फूंके ऐसा मंत्र !
अधिकारों को छोड़कर
पूर्ण करें कर्तव्य
तभी सुराज प्रणेताओं का
पूरा होगा मंतव्य!
--अरुण प्रदीप