The Special Striking Team has struck again this week. Twice. Once at Vimen Sabapati and once at our colleague Harish Chundunsing. Both instances are related. At least one is shameful and should not be tolerated in a democratic society. 

No one is saying that Sabapati is innocent of the drug trafficking offence that he is being accused of. No one is saying he is guilty either. To determine guilt or innocence, there is a legal process that the authorities, including the Special Striking Team (SST) have to adhere to. The same applies in the case of Harish, whom the SST decided to arrest and interrogate. They cannot continue to think that they are so special that the laws of this country do not apply to them. That they have become a law unto themselves. 

In my recent book*, I documented how, in some cases, the SST, or more specifically ASP Ashik Jagai, has himself signed the search warrants for the raid of the homes of political opponents, before hauling them off to the police stations. In one case, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry states in an affidavit that the SST had first requested a search warrant from a judge and when the latter refused to grant one, they simply had one of their own team sign one and they rushed to Teeluckdharry’s in-laws’ house where they terrorised his mother-in-law – an old and handicapped lady – for hours before they left empty-handed. The checks and balances, upon which our whole legal and political systems are based, are flouted with such ease that one wonders who is now safe in this country. 

So our colleague Chundunsing reposted a video showing a car stopping next to Sabapati’s and dropping something underneath it. Whether that can be qualified as planting, watering or harvesting is immaterial. It throws a new light on the drug allegation. The SST or whoever that was who was caught by cameras dropping whatever it was has to come and explain what looks like a criminal act. If, as it is rumoured, the SST was actually placing a GPS to track Sabapati’s movements, they have to explain whether they had a judge’s order for that; otherwise, it is a criminal offence. If it is committed by law enforcement, then we should ask ourselves whether the Police Force is out there to protect us or to terrorise those who are seen to be against the government in place.

What is Harish’s crime? Having reposted video footage already shared by Vimen Sabapati’s brother, Ramen? And the next thing he knew was that he was picked up like a vulgar criminal and dragged to the Line Barracks, then a court case was lodged with all the tribulations that follow! 

As things stand, the SST’s image is not looking too glorious. And arresting hapless citizens for stating what is already public knowledge is not going to improve that. 

What will change their image is if they started zooming in on those who are close to government for a change. Looking at Franklin’s ranch and trying to find out what activities have been taking place there and how he has been getting away with it until The SST’s colleagues in Reunion island nabbed him and his accomplices. Who allowed them to use state land as a hiding place and a business operation headquarters. Who is benefitting from the loot, the family tragedies and the sadness that results from peddling death. Why a minister and a Private Parliamentary Secretary can carry on with their business as usual even after so many allegations have been made against them. Who is protecting them? Once the SST starts showing a bit of interest in that, Harish will likely post other videos showing the SST’s valour and great work. 

For as long as the SST has a binary vision that anyone against the government is ripe to be picked up on drug charges or breach of the ICT Act, while those close to power can do what they like with impunity, the SST will find it hard to promote the image it would like to have. 

*Touria Prayag’s second book: #BLD: When Mauritius Lost its Bedside Manners is available at Librairie Le Cygne, Le Printemps and all the Bookcourt outlets.