I N T E R N A T I O N A L C A M P A I G N

I could see that most of the policewomen were touched. Some had tears. There was one particularly tough one and we kept at it, until even she too was moved.
Rachna the radio star
Starting several days before the padyatras arrival in Delhi, Radio Mirchi began covering the marchers' progress daily. Radio Mirchi is one of the most popular radio stations in Delhi, with 40 lakh (4 million) listeners daily. Rachna was speaking on air everyday from her cell phone.
They originally told us that they wanted to cover the padyatra up until its arrival on the 27th, but once we got here they called to say they wanted to continue indefinitely because their listeners were so charmed by Rachna.
"We got 16 calls right after we hung up with you, yesterday," they told her. "Our listeners can hardly believe your energy and charm for someone who has just walked 800 kilometers."
The ever-charming Rachna lamenting her blisters. She has forbidden us to show this picture, so here it is

The doctor accused Bano Bee who is 55 years old, of malingering and threatened to explore her abdomen surgically to reveal the truth. "Then you'll really have pain," the doctor told her, "You can hold your stomach and walk around in pain instead of pretending."
The hospital refused to let them see their own chest x-rays, giving them instead only a written report that they were fine.
They have been released and are back at the camp near Humayun's tomb. We have decided they need independent medical examination because we suspect that the hospital is in collusion with the police to minimise and falsify their injuries. Right now they are waiting for some other doctors to arrive at the camp.
JAIL UPDATE, 22:43 IST, 18:13 BST
We don't have an exact number of people originally arrested in frontof the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, but we estimate it to bebetween 200 and 300. We do know that among those arrested were 35children (age 12 and under), including many infants.
Within just a few hours, the police offered to drop everybody off atJantar Mantar, where they could be cordoned off and comfortablycontrolled by the police. But these Bhopalis were absolutely livid athow they had been treated after walking 800 km. They refused theoffer, realizing the cops desperately wanted them out of theircustody. The police had neither the time nor the resources to do thepaperwork as well as feed and shelter so many people all at once. TheBhopalis did not want to let these these thugs off so easily -- howdare they yank and drag them across the pavement from where they weresitting peacefully, stuff them in buses, cart them to the jail, andthen hope for it all to end conveniently for themselves. Peoplestarted shouting spontaneously, "We are not afraid! We will spend thenight in jail!"
The police were slowly beginning to realize they had underestimatedhow tough and determined the padyatris and other Bhopalis are. Aftera bold stand by 38 people who were then arrested and jailed, thepolice decided that even a few Bhopalis were far more than they wantedto deal with, and all the remaining arrestees were separated andcompelled to leave.
The day had started off peacefully in the spirit of the long march, which had been marked by songs and dancing, and the walkers nurturing a naive trust that the Prime Minister of India would listen to their problems.