Bull's Eye

"What the public would like to know is whether the two victims were common criminals or terrorists?," I asked.

"They were certainly not criminals," he replied. "They were highly motivated terrorists."

"How can you be sure they were terrorists?"

"They had a long record of terrorising the police," he said. "So we know they were terrorists."

"OK. Were they home-grown or Pakistanis?" I asked.

He became cautious. "There is some circumstantial evidence suggesting they were Pakistanis. But frankly, we can't be sure."

"What evidence is there to suspect they were Pakistanis?"

"The Pakistani media was often quoting them. We know that at least one of them visited Pakistan frequently."

"If they were terrorising the police for many years as you claim, and you know that one of them frequently visited Pakistan, how is it that you can't establish their identities?"

"But we do know the identities of both," he said with some surprise.

"What were their names?"

"Kuldip Nayar and Praful Bidwai," he said. "They had their hideouts in Parliament, the IIC and the Press Club. Unintentionally, they helped us. The press was asking awkward questions. After they attacked us, public attention got diverted from our many lapses."

"How did the police manage to trap them and shoot their reputations?"

"Actually, the police were lucky. A third accomplice, a doctor, let them down. They walked into the trap and the police nailed them."

"Can you tell us something about the encounter?"

"Both the terrorists seemed to be quite inexperienced. They rushed in shooting off their mouths without first studying the terrain. The police had little to do after that."

"Has anyone claimed their bodies?"

"No," he said. "But we can make a good guess who might eventually claim their souls."

It's the rule in my book,
Leap before you look,
Whenever there's a stink,
Act before you think.