New low in police discipline

What is even more worrisome is the fact that not only the two cops were in possession of AK47 rifles, they were also important witnesses in the sensational case relating to10 truckloads of arms hauled up at the Chittagong Urea Fertilizer Factory jetty last year.

And that's not all -- some of the AK47s they possessed, six to be precise, reportedly went into the hands of a notorious criminal who is a close aide of a top Shibir cadre. Such dealing in weapons by police officials gets our hackles up as to how much more of the arms seized in Chittagong might have been spirited away to the underworld caches!

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We must congratulate Rab on their intrepid handling in this case, because had they not arrested Akash with an AK47 and their subsequent investigation not led to the disclosure about the two police sergeants' involvement in the dealings, the latter probably would have been still roaming. This thought undoubtedly troubles us a lot.

It also brings the main issue to the fore viz. the irresolution of the whole arms haul case which reflects a gross failure on the part of the authorities. It also raises our suspicion about some law enforcers' involvement in the proliferation of weapons as purveyors and distributors of illegal arms. There does not seem to exist any specific mechanism for ensuring transparency and accountability of forces in respect of handling arms and ammunition after their seizures! We, therefore, see an impelling necessity for the authorities to put appropriate measures in place to avert recurrence of such rabid criminal behaviour on the part of those who are supposed to be providing security to society.