Timeframe :
From 6.45pm - Two plaincloth policemen came to Kg.Buah Pala to arrest Tamaraj, Murugan and Arumugam the committee members of Kg.Buah Pala under the instruction of Tuan Ibrahim and OCPD and Sjn.Uda.
-The policemen asked Mr.Murugan and Mr.Tamaraj to produce their IC and kept it with them, the committee members did not refuse the arrest but their IC was given back to them few minutes later after receiving a phone call.
-Police advised the committee to to meet Sjn.Uda at the Patani Road police station and I followed the committee to the station.
-At the entrance of the police station, Const.Rahiman said he has instruction from Sjn.Uda not to let the Villagers to enter the Station, we were instructed to stay outside in the rain until we pressure them to enter and our intention is to lodge a reoprt.
*Reporters present at the police station was chased out from there soon we enter the station although they came in with a valid pass.
From 7.44pm - Mr.Tamaraj and Mr.Murugan lodge a report against the for police harrassment, humiliation and threatening in Kg.Buah Pala.
From 7.58pm - One of the policeman involved in the earlier arrest attempt came and check the report made by Mr.Tamaraj and Mr.Murugan.
From 8.09pm - Report completed and we proceed to the 3rd floor to meet Sjn.Uda as instructed earlier. At the BILIK STANDBY- (2) DETEKTIF, a plaincloth Special Branch officer by the name of Naga, informed us that he received instruction that the Buah Pala Villagers are coming to surrender themself and he is stationed there to handle the situation. We were puzzled.
* At this point of time we already sense that something is not right and we suspect that it is related to the Developer or State Government's involvement and relation with the Demolition attempts.
At 8.21pm Sjn.Uda came into the office and he was not aware about the arrest instruction and the whole process. After discussing with Mr.Tamaraj and Mr.Murugan for few minutes and few phone calls, we were asked to meet Puan Sarah on the report made against Mr.Tamaraj months ago.
From 8.43pm - while waiting for Puan Sarah, we were asked to leave and come back once we receive call from Pn.Sarah. At the same time we were instructed to meet Insp.Megat at Jelutong Police Station regarding the case the committee made against Police.
From 9.01pm - At Jelutong police station.
Myself,Mr.Murugan, Mr.Tamaraj, Mr.Sugumaran and Mr.Steven were at the Police Station to meet Insp.Megat who came about 30mins later. He invited us to his office, upon entering the office, we realise something shocking written on the white notice board! The deadline for demolition is on the 1st Sept 2009 and the Suspects to be arrested on the 30th Aug 2009? Does'nt this trigger anything?
This is what written on the notice board in the Detectives room!
Insp.Megat was so humble while referring to the report made on the earlier incident of harrasment for less than a minute and went missing for about 15mins before coming back to proceed with collecting information on each Committee member. He then sat in front of the computer and made a personal check and keyed-in the detail check form.
After completing the detailed report he then told that he wants to detain Mr.Stephen, Mr.Tamaraj and Mr.Sugumaran for 2 reasons. A lady by the name of Santha who is a DAP member and Mr.Tamaraj's neighbor made a report against Mr.Tamaraj on the 9th July 2009 and a developer's contractor Nordin b.Mohd made a report against Mr.Stepehen and Mr.Sugumaran for harrassment on the 4th Aug 2009(Mr.Sugumaran was not in the Village on the said date).
He refuse to entertain further questions from us and he is firm to his decision to detain them. he kepts on informing us that it is a direct instruction from OCPD. He also said " Call whoever, any Dato's that can help you with this case, he also refuse to give details of the case to us, he only gave few info's and most of the thing he said was not accurate!
Lawyer for the Villagers, Darshan Singh arrived at the at the police station about an hour after the detention, he was not welcomed by Insp.Megat, who answered all the question with one answer "Ask my Boss!" when Darshan asked him who is your boss, he answered ASP Siddambaram. When called Siddambaram, he said they will be remanded tommorow morning at 11.00am and according to Megat it is at 11am. They refuse to cooperate with the Lawyer and doesnt even want to reveal the report no. and the person who made the report. which is crucial information for lawyers and it is their right to know. They kept on passing the ball between Siddambaram and Megat.
The Villager starts flooding the police station during the process of detention and at about 12am, there were around 200 villagers and supporters against the detention. At about 1am, when the police tried to ferry the detainees to Patani Rd Police Station, the warrior womens came in to the rescue, they blocked the police van and hailed "Kami tak Buat Salah, tangkap developer" and stood in front of the van, and pushing it until they themself reverse and took the committee members back to the station, the commotion lasted for about 20minutes. Until police gave up! and granted bail to them. Now, why do they grant the bail after all this commotions? they can just release them earlier under the same bail!.
This is the most interesting part in the whole incident, A lady by the name of Santha, who was named by the Police as the complainant for the report made on Tamaraj, suddenly appeared in front of the Van which is in the middle of the commotion and almost reached the Junction to turn left towards Patani Rd. She claimed that she never made any report against Tamaraj recently, and willing to confront the police on this issue, Insp.Megat was right there beside me but pretending not knowing the Issue, I asked him to verify the matter but he refused to talk, Santha went into the police station and explained that the report was made long time ago and it is not a deal now. She withdrew the report and Tamaraj's case is considered closed.
At The Scene...
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices
