CAUGHT RED HANDED

Caught Red Handed !


Way back in 1984 I had gone to Japan for two months.I was staying in a  special room in dormitory of small city called Fukuyama which is about 200 km north of famous Hiroshima city.

Fukuyama was perhaps C category city but at that time itself Fukuyama had automatic  traffic light signals  and Cameras fitted on every busy square and whichever part of the city  I saw, was spotlessly clean.The room in   dormitory  where I stayed was equipped with air conditioner and TV. In the evening I used to walk to spend time because though TV had 40 channels  except the sport channel no other channel was of any use to me.

On one evening I was returning at about 10 pm after seeing  English movie. There was negligible traffic . As I was crossing on the zebra line there was a strong and heavy hand on my shoulder.He was a policeman. He  took me to his cabin at one corner. Obviously I was frightened.Away from India in the place where I couldnot read or understand the language of Japanies I started worrying.   After checking my passport  and enquiring why I had  come to Fukuyama in a very crude English  ,the policeman   told me  my crime that I jumped the red light on the crossing.

 I did not know they had CC TV and so I politely argued displaying 'my innocence 'that I crossed when there was a green light. The policeman did not say a word to me but talked something to his colleague in Japanese language who within a minute showed me on TV how I committed the crime.In fact an officer had caught me red handed !


 I was expecting heavy fine but the experience was different. They perhaps discussed something about India and then  the policeman in his broken English explained to me why one should follow rules and how dangerous it could be if one jumps red light etc etc.
Their teaching to me reminded me what teachers back home in India taught to nursery or Kinder Garden  students. To my surprise I was asked to recognize Red yellow and Green colors and they explained what one should do upon seeing those light's on the zebra crossing . Later they verified whether I understood the things correctly or not. Needless to state I was ashamed.There was no iota of doubt about I had jumped the red light.


 I confessed to them that I saw on both sides and there was no vehicle on either side so I crossed . There was again discussion between two policemen and then they told me after  showing  another video clip  that accidents happen whenever pedestrians think like  what I did .

I still remember the sentence in that broken English with acting 

" suddenly a vehicle comes....  zooo...p.   and person die ! "  (In that tense situation  I somehow controlled laughing after seeing the acting of policeman about how person dies ! )

They told me that since I was a foreigner and since they are not sure whether I know the rules or not , they are allowing me to go. 

I  thanked them by saying "arigato Gazai masto "

SInce then ....Whenever I read news  about any accident case because of jumping  of red light I remember that sentence of Japanies police .....  "...zoo...p....and the person die " .

Request all readers to follow the traffic rules .......They are for our safety !!

  ------ Rajendra Phansalkar.                                      Jan 14 , 1985

  

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