Cartoons, books, films, comments on Facebook and the like equally offend individuals, ideologically aligned groups and even state actors with increasing regularity in India. The Indian government passes arbitrary and loosely defined laws curbing freedom of speech and expression on the Internet. The judiciary steps in from time to time with a reasoned voice righting some of these wrongs and meting out justice to those who have to bear the brunt of a reactionary and a knee-jerk style government. The tamasha of democracy goes on while its crux is continually eroded and trammelled upon.

It’s one thing though to be an observer and vent one’s outrage at what has happened to others elsewhere but it’s all together another thing to be on the receiving end of violently enforced arbitrary and illegal censorship by some individual or group. Even worse is to discover that the local police are reluctant to do their job to protect citizens who are engaged in lawful activities.

The one thing that is almost always true in India is that if you are a victim of a crime, you need to be prepared to be victimized some more in your pursuit of justice. As we have all been made aware of late, victims of rape hesitate to report cases as they fear that they will be victimized once more by the police and all and sundry who will blame them for being raped.

But what happens if one seeks police protection to watch an award-winning film that has been cleared by the censor board when one fears that goons will violently disrupt the proceeding?

September 7 was the first time I have been personally affected by individuals who violently disrupted the Kashmir Film Festival that was meant to give us an understanding of Kashmir from different points of view. On arrival, I was informed that the film screenings curated by Ajay Raina and Pankaj Rishi Kumar in association with the Films Division were stopped as several protestors had descended early upon the venue, Prasad Labs Preview Theatre, broken windows, damaged equipment, assaulted an employee, manhandled film makers Sanjay Kak and Siddhartha Giggoo and made off with Raina’s laptop. The screenings for Saturday and Sunday at Prasad Labs were cancelled.

Screenings of the films were also to be held during the subsequent week at various universities around town and one at Lamakaan. Lamakaan is a unique open and cultural space in Hyderabad that has become a haven for film screenings, plays, talks and debates. It is spurring awareness and dialog in a manner that is in keeping with a democratic society.

In view of what had happened at Prasad Labs, Lamakaan asked for police protection while the film Harud was being screened. The police arrived at Lamakaan and ordered that the screening be stopped as it was against the Indian Army. Kumar, one of the curators, argued passionately with the police saying that the film had a censor certificate and it was not against the Indian Army. He asked the inspector to stay for the screening and even declared that he will hang himself in the police station if the film was found to be anti-army.

The inspector did not budge. He would not reveal who sent him and merely said that he had information that people would barge in and start breaking things and assaulting people. He said the police were too stretched with the Ganesh festival and VIP movements in town and suggested that we watch the film in our homes instead of raking up controversy. However, police were left at the scene to ensure that the screening did not proceed.

Those who came for the screening were left bewildered and angry that the police could not protect their rights as citizens in a democratic society to watch a film that won the best Urdu film award at the 60th National Film awards.

So, the answer is that the police will not give you any protection and continue to side with those who are engaged in unlawful activity. Freedom of speech, expression and fundamental rights have no place in this democratic country when someone with muscle power blindly decides what is and is not fit to be screened in public and has the ability to influence police action.

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