Truth is stranger than fiction is an old adage. But truth is accepted, even if it is strange, when it comes from a person with a record of unimpeachable integrity. C. Dinakar was a member of the IPS for 38 years. He has the reputation of calling a spade a spade. His style would not have gladdened the heart of Dale Carnegie; but his integrity has remained unquestioned. He has come forward to tell the readers the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. The objective in writing this book is to make people in high places to realise the folly of their thoughtless actions, to make the common man realise that men in power do not always do what is right, and expediency governs human conduct when the instinct for self-preservation asserts itself. People do not know what exactly happens when the officers and ministers meet for discussions. This book gives an insight into such matters. Public memory is proverbially short: Veerappan's crimes, what Dr. Rajkumar should have and should not have done, the hard work and toil of the police officers and men, the blunders of the pompous IAS officers, the dithering of the political leaders, the pressures exerted by the powerful lobby, and the agony of the common man will be forgotten sooner or later.But this book will remain as a document to remind the persons about what all happened during those agonising 108 days and what normally happens under such circumstances. This book would have served its purpose if:VIPs think several times before rejecting the advice of the Police about security;Political leaders realise that IAS officers are not heaven-born angels;Pressure groups do not influence the decision-making process; and Ministers allow the Police to handle the law and order situations according to law and in the interest of the public at large.