The terrible abyss

We condemn this act and express our deep condolences for the dead and sympathies for other victims and the members of the bereaved families. Their losses are irreparable, but the government would do well to give compensation to the families of the victims. The injured must receive utmost care and support.

While it is not yet known who actually committed the public murder, it is obvious that the killers have taken advantage of two trends. First, they may well have tried to capitalise on the political environment which is confrontational and violence-prone.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

The monstrous nature of the arson does suggest an ulterior motive on the part of the perpetrators to destabilise the society and fish in troubled waters. Secondly, the climate of lawlessness presents an opportunity to the enemies of the people to get away with anything and everything. How many cases of bomb attacks and arson have been resolved so far -- and how many killers have been punished? We have drawn a virtual blank on it, thereby emboldening the dark, extremist minds to plot and perpetrate newer forms of violence on society.

The extreme dehumanization reflected by the bus-burning incident has jolted us into realising that we must do everything to prevent such mind-boggling acts of mayhem in future. That's a lesson we draw. But the other equally important lesson which has gone by default is the supreme need for getting to the bottom of such dastardly crimes. Failure so far in other cases has no doubt emboldened the perpetrators of such heinous acts.

Now, the government must go all-out to catch the plotters and perpetrators of the bus fire crime. The incident has laid bare how vulnerable our individual and collective security has become at this point. The law enforcers will have to break the back of the evil force who are out to ruin everything we stand for.