Rab and 'crossfire' killings

It was in response to this dire state of affairs that Rab began its latest anti-crime drive in June. Since then it has gone on what appears to amount to a killing spree, euphemistically called deaths in crossfire. The deaths of four more alleged criminals in Tongi and Mirpur on Friday bring the total number of those killed in Rab custody and crossfire to around fifty in the six months of operations. In the latest incident there is even an element of doubt whether those killed were involved with criminality. There are no available figures for how many others have been apprehended in the Rab actions and are now behind bars.

There has been a fair amount of public support for the Rab with an element of relief over the fact that the special squad has struck fear in the minds of hardened criminals. That does not however preclude the expression of serious concern over custodial and crossfire killings or the virtual circumvention of the due process of law or rule of law.

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It would even be fair to say that we at The Daily Star have not been as vocal in our protests against the killings as we might have been. The fact that the government was at last taking a strong stand against the criminal elements that dominate the country was seen as a positive step. Now, however, it seems as though the Rab operations have got to the point where killings are regular occurrences and seem more the norm than the exception. We would be failing in our duty if we did not voice our serious concern over the current state of affairs. The laudable goal of fighting crime cannot be used as justification for trampling the rule of law.