In India, Inspector Singh, life is sometimes very cheap. — Shamini Flint

“I’m quite persuasive,” said Singh, his face forbidding. “And,” he amended, “she was willing to be persuaded.”

“Text messaging?”

“That is main way that trouble-makers are getting flash mobs together for riots,” explained Patel.

Singh chewed on his bottom lip thoughtfully. Technology had a lot to answer for. ... It did beg the question though – how had the more tiresome elements of society begun riots before the era of mobile phones – carrier pigeons?

The inspector wondered whether ‘those people’ really had immunity or just died at a higher rate than the wealthier denizens of the city. He suspected the latter.