RAB operations

Not for a moment do we condone the custodial deaths, but it must be said that the sense of psychological assuagement in the public stems perhaps from their acceptance of the reality that the horrendously poor law and order necessitated some tough measures.

One cannot, however, lose sight of the long-term consequences of investing a law-enforcing agency such as the RAB with undiluted and sweeping powers that might eventually run counter to the principles of the rule of law and natural justice. There would perhaps be a greater degree of acceptance if its focus was restricted to crime control without any excesses committed.

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We would be remiss if we did not stress the fact that the downslide of law and order is due to a nexus between politicians and criminals. It is the ruling party under whose sponsorship godfathers and criminals were mostly nurtured and government now has to resort to forming 'special forces' to tackle these elements.

We feel that in stemming the deterioration, root causes must be gone into because employment of elite forces can only be a palliative. We would like to see a situation where, in the maintenance of law and order, the usual instruments of the state are employed without infringing human rights and civil liberties.