Spicezee Bureau
New Delhi: The picture that has been making the rounds of web space may have a different story altogether. Two days back a picture of a couple kissing in Vacouver in midst of a riot splashed across different web pages. At first glance the picture seemed to show the young couple lying on the road and kissing, oblivious to the chaos around them.
However, as per a UK newspaper, it now appears that the couple had been knocked down by the riot police. The couple, who have been identified as Scott Jones and his girlfriend, Alex Thomas, were themselves shocked to find their pictures splashed across various social networking sites and news sites.
The picture which was taken by Canadian photographer, Richard Lam, became an instant hit with the media. It appeared on Facebook, Twitter and various other websites and was being touted as one of the world’s most iconic kiss photographs.
In fact, Scott’s father Brett Jones posted his sons picture on Facebook with the caption, "How`s that for making love, not war”.
The photographer himself had doubts about the kiss after he clicked it. A second shot by the same photographer, depicted a different story as it showed people around the couple.
A witness, identifying himself as William, wrote to the Vancouver Sun to give his take. He stated that he was on top of a carpark looking down on the place where the picture was taken. "What happened was the police line rushed the crowd and this couple trying to stay together couldn`t react in time and were run over my two riot police officers.
"The girl who was knocked over landed head first on the pavement with her boyfriend landing partially on top of her. She was in visible pain, crying, but the two officers gave them a parting shove and moved on. Bystanders went to go make sure she was OK. I understand that the frontline police have to control the crowd but it is a bit ridiculous that they couldn`t have other officers or paramedics behind the line to help anyone who is hurt."
According to Australian media reports, Scott Jones, a 29-year-old from Melbourne has been living in Vancouver for six months. The woman is said to be his girlfriend Alex Thomas, a Canadian.
Scott’s Facebook page was full of comments. One friend wrote, "You keep getting played on the news. You`re famous!" one wrote. Jones replied: "Classic! This was shortly after the riot police run over the top of us and naturally Alex needed some comforting."
The photograph was taken when riots broke out on the streets of vacouver following, Vancouver Canucks` 4-0 loss to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup.
Officials in Vancouver said almost 150 people required hospital treatment and almost 100 were arrested during the riot.
Richard Lam stated that how initially he though the the girl was injured. He clicked a few shots before the moment was lost.
"It was complete chaos. Rioters set two cars on fire and then I saw looters break the window at a neighbouring department store," said Lam.
"At that point the riot police charged right towards us. After I stopped running I noticed in the space behind the line of police that two people were lying in the street with the riot police and a raging fire just beyond them.
"I knew I had captured a moment when I snapped the still forms against the backdrop of such chaos but it wasn`t until later when I returned to the rink to file my photos that my editor pointed out that the two people were not hurt, but kissing," Lam said before the real story behind the photo came out.
