Dealing with outlaws

The planned surrender of the political extremists, responsible for a marked slide in law and order in the southern region, is reported to be the result of negotiations between the police high-ups and the representatives of two extremist groups. And they have been assured of a safe passage to normal life. However, legal experts have questioned the validity of such a deal, as under the law of the land criminals cannot be set free only because they have surrendered to police.

Police must have worked in light of their experience that law and order is nose-diving in many places in the south, where political extremists are very active. But the question is whether clearing a large number of known criminals of the grave charges that they are facing will be an effective move, not to speak of the legal intricacies. Even the general amnesty for underground operatives that the immediate past government declared did not produce the desired results, though a good number of extremists did surrender to police. Many of them are believed to have returned to the underworld as few follow-up measures were adopted to rehabilitate them.

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The latest move appears to be an initiative of Barisal police only as reports say that even the DC of Barisal doesn't know much about the plan. The job of handling political extremists posing a serious threat to law and order has to be accomplished on the basis of a well-thought-out plan. Both the administrative and law enforcing agencies of the government should have a role in the process.

An amnesty for political extremists can be a peaceful way of bringing them back to normal life. But that can by no means be a deal or understanding having no legal or administrative basis.