Newton Page #2

- Know where you're going?

- Booth no. 148

Kondanar

Very first elections there

Only 76 voters

No problem, sir. We have a booth

for one voter in Gir jungle

Really?

This is Dandakaranya,

not Gir jungle

It has a strong Maoist presence

The violence was 6 months ago.

It's under our control now

You'll get full security

Two officers and a local BLO

to help you

You'll fly by helicopter

But I'm deputed to the City Hall?

- Who said so?

- Mr Bansilal

Do I make the list? Or does he?

You make the list, ma'am

I've just got married.

My wife is pregnant

- I am a heart patient

- A heart patient?

Did you hear that?

A heart patient

The doctor has told me

not to fly

Your medical certificate?

I'll bring it in an hour

No, half an hour

Mr Meshram, can someone

from Reserves go?

I'll check, ma'am

In the jungle...

...logic doesn't work

Only instinct

Didn't 19 people die in

the last election?

Not just here, but throughout

the county

Elections are being held here

after years

We'll know the casualties numbers

tomorrow

Sir, there's a river 3-4 km away

- Pakistan is up ahead

- Pakistan?

The Maoists

Their red flag flew here

till last August

Wherever I've been posted,

people have saluted other flags

Flags and floggings make nations

Correct

Why do you call the Maoist area

"Pakistan?"

God knows

They called it that before my time.

Enemy means Pakistan

Was this area under

Maoist control?

Now we control it

But it's still dangerous.

Land mines everywhere

Mind where you pee

Might set off a land mine

Why look at me?

You think I'll pee?

No, I'm just telling you

I have diabetes. I might need

to go

This is our camp

Don't worry, we're safe here

What time do we leave for duty?

The Asst. Commandant will

brief you at breakfast

That's our mess

Your tent is on that side

Sir, careful

Don't wander about at night.

There are scorpions and snakes

Mr Newton

Mr Loknath

Shambhu, wake up!

Loknath sir

Get up! It's 4am

Shambhu, let's go

Got any toothpaste?

Ask when he's coming

He's on his way, sir

Hello, Mr Kumar

Atma Singh. Assistant Commandant

I'm Newton Kumar

Upper Division Clerk,

Collector's Office

Loknath and Shambhu.

We're together

When do we leave?

- Where to?

- Kondanar. For the voting

Voting

You eat eggs?

Eggs?

Wild fowl eggs. Our hens are

revolutionaries too

I had to interrogate them

for hours to get them out

Want some? A tonic for bravery

Let's go after breakfast

It's enough that you've

made it this far

It's unsafe beyond here.

My men will get the votes

Ma'am said it's been

quiet for 6 months

Really?

Didn't she tell you...

...about the Maoist operation

that took place 6 months ago?

If the area was safe, why are

we playing hide-n-seek here?

This is how elections are conducted

in sensitive areas

I have conducted elections in

Srinagar and Manipur

But I'm the presiding officer

Is the school where we'll install

the booth 8km away?

That's correct

After the police operation,

the villagers were...

...sent to camps near the city

- It's your area, your call

- Please

Let me do my duty

There are 76 voters who live

around here

Their votes are important

Mr Newton, they don't care

about the elections

They're illiterate villagers

And the Maoists have ordered them

not to vote

I'll give it to you in writing,

no one will vote

Write it down then. I'll submit

it to the Collector's office

Jayesh!

Bulletproof jacket

Let's hurry

Government goods. Tie it tight,

that's if you want to live

Who is this?

Sir, she's the BLO

How did she get inside?

How did she?

She's one of our team

Checked her ID?

Your name?

Malko. Malko Netam

- You can't come with us

- What?

- She must. She's a team member

- I decide that

You're not coming. Go

The rule says a BLO

has to be present.

You're coming

You don't get it. You can't trust

the locals

You don't get it

She's in our team. She's coming

with us

- Do we give her a BP jacket?

- Yes

Yashwant! A bulletproof jacket

for madam

I don't want it

It's safer

I'm a local. I'm safer without one

Take mine off then

No. You're not a local

- You have the voters list?

- Yes

- Is it updated?

- The best I could do

You have copies?

Hemant, give them their crowns

Crowns?

Helmets

Must we?

You'll walk in the centre.

The boys will spread out

Let's go

What is it?

Get up!

Sir

- I have to go

- That's what we're doing

I mean I need to take a dump

Why didn't you go at the camp?

I'm unlucky. I have to work hard

for small rewards

A bunch of clowns

Let him go, it's an emergency

Let me help

Do I look like a kid who needs help?

Halt!

How many times will you go?

A yogi goes once, a pleasure-seeker twice.

The ailing goes 3 times

What are you, sir?

A pleasure-seeker

Leave me alone. A little privacy,

please

What can I say?

- He was on the phone all night

- Talking to the girlfriend?

Lakhma, where are they going?

To gather Tendu leaves

Bring them here

Get their votes

No, it doesn't work like that.

Voting has rules

Without voter cards, they can't vote

Lakhma, ask them if they have

voter cards

Listen

Do you know it is election day?

You know about the elections?

Yes, we know

We'll set up the booth at the

Kondanar School. Come there

We'll come

You must all come

- Does everyone have a voter card?

- Yes

Bring them with you. Don't forget

We'll wait there. You must come

Rajman, explain it in Gondi

- They might not show up

- Why not?

They were told in Gondi that

voting stops at 11:30am

Wait!

Voting stops at 3pm, not 11.30

Come anytime before that

You must come

By 3. Not 11:
30. Please translate

Your man was lying to them

Where is your old man?

What happened?

Six voters came but Newton

did not take their votes

How could I?

6 out of 76 voters showed up.

That's a 7.5% turnout

How was your turnout?

Thanks to you, it was 100%

Did you play cricket as a kid?

Yes

Batsman, or bowler?

Umpire

Thought as much

What's your opinion of

the Maoists?

No opinion.

That's why they sent me here

Good

You're intelligent. Why didn't you sit for

the civil service exam?

- I did, but I failed

- Thought as much

Do you know the capital of

Nagaland?

Kohima

- Manipur?

- Imphal

- Kashmir?

- Srinagar

Seen any of those cities?

No

Listen

I have

Hold it

Heavy, right?

The nation's burden.

It's on our shoulders

Keep moving

Wait

I'm the only one asking questions

in this jungle. OK?

Sir, are you related to some

government big shot?

No

You must know someone influential

No, why?

Sure you do

No one has the guts to talk

to a police officer like that

Tell me. Am I right?

I won't tell anyone

Keep walking

Mr Atma Singh

Who burned their homes?

- The villagers are safe in camps

- Who set the village on fire?

Does it matter? There's peace.

Everything is in control

Whose idea was it to do this?

You're here for the elections.

Do your research later

This is the school.

Lakhma, put everything inside

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