Police becoming casualties

This is a trend we have been witnessing lately with much worry and concern. Members of the police force are becoming more and more vulnerable to fatalities while performing their duties. It is so unfortunate that the state has not been able to provide adequate protection to them in the face of growing dangers to their lives. They are being simply outgunned by criminals.

We are also concerned about the nature of such crimes taking place at the business hub of the capital. The group that tried to catch the criminals at Motijheel on Sunday was one of the twenty-two specially formed units assigned to cover as many crime-prone spots of the city. They along with regular forces were patrolling the area. But that didn't deter the criminals from carrying out their mission. They probably knew that no matter how many policemen confronted them they would still manage to get away, and this is exactly what makes us very worried. It doesn't say much about the security environment in one of the most important parts of the city. This is a place where a lot of money is transacted daily making it a potential target for criminal extortion. Therefore having merely a group of five policemen to cover that particular area with minimal arms and ammunition could not have forestalled the danger. The sooner the authorities realise this, the better.

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And finally, the reported link between the criminals of Sunday and Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the ruling party leaves none in doubt as to where the malcontent needs to be homed in on, and exorcised. The onus, therefore, is on the government. It has to show us that criminals will actually be brought to book irrespective of their affiliations with any political party whatsoever.