Arrest surging crime
A growing sense of despair, intolerance, distrust and animosity and steady erosion of values have gripped the nation. Horrifying incidents of violence and terrorism stalk the country in a manner that no sensible citizenry can comprehend. Sadly, the whole country seems to be caught in a frightening coil of fear and trauma.
Tension and fear gripped the citizenry when they learnt how Khaledur Rahman, a Jubo league worker in Jessore, was killed in broad daylight about 100 yards from the office of the superintendent of police on July 30.He and his wife and six month-old baby were going to hospital in a rickshaw. The killers swooped on them, threw the baby on the road, pushed aside his wife, stabbed him to death and left the scene quietly.
The killing of Sabuj is a chilling reminder of the total breakdown of law and order, when such a ghastly incident can take place in close proximity to the crime-busting chief boss's office. In Jessore alone, during the last seven months 69 persons have been murdered, and newspaper reports further reveal that the terrorists in Jessore are being patronised by ruling party men.
Another report published in the Prothom Alo on August 30 indicated that 7 alleged dacoits were beaten to death in different places of Chittagong and Kishoreganj during the previous week. With grisly incidents of crime playing havoc with the lives of the city dwellers, Dhaka, of late, has attained the dubious distinction of being the number one crime city. Violence and gangsterism of all types, as well as rampant killings, are searing the capital city in such an ugly manner that commerce has come to a grinding halt and movement has become too risky.
The traumatic, frightening and ghastly crime wave is sweeping over the country. Newspaper reports revealed that a minor schoolgirl in Charvadrason area of Faridpur district was gang-raped by a group studying in the same school. What was most worrying and barbaric was that the gang rape action was videotaped and then the footage sold in the market for commercial gain. The incident puts to shame even the savage and carnal crimes committed in the crime-prone countries.
The increasing incidence of extortion in the capital city has alarmed the city dwellers so much that they are afraid to go out of their houses. Extortionists snatched Tk.4.25 lakh in broad daylight from Kaniz Fatima, a housewife on her way back home by a baby taxi on August 9, and shot her and the baby taxi driver near Mirpur indoor stadium. In another incident on August 17, extortionists took away Tk.3.5 lakh from a Dr. Sakhawat Hossain, a physician, in Green Road.
What is more worrying is that police, in almost all the cases, are clueless. And they want to know the name of the extortionist and the number of the taxicab the victim passengers were riding on when they go to the police station for filing cases. It seems that citizens, out of pent up anger and frustration, are taking the law in their own hands.
Mob justice, a most common phenomenon in sub-Saharan Africa until some years ago, has taken hold in this country. Despite the fact that law enforcers are now equipped with modern gadgets including cellular phones, fast moving vehicles and fighting devices, they sadly fail to reach the troubled spots for containing the mischief or violence. The extortionists are hacked to death before the arrival of police and, in most cases, the police never turn up.
Understandably, much of the street justice is a reaction to the country's ineffectual criminal justice system. There is a crisis of confidence in the police administration as evidenced by many a report carried by the media. One is likely to feel dismayed as the O.C. Jessore police station said after Khaled's killing in Jessore: "Khaled's death was inevitable because he was a terrorist."
People might ask that if he was a dreaded terrorist, how did he evade arrest, trial and punishment through legal processes for so long? People might want to know who those people were who stood in the way of these criminals' prosecution and arrest and played a foul game by getting bail for them.
As far as it was learnt, the Faridpur rapists are still at large even after committing such a heinous crime because of police inaction resulting from political interference. People tend to feel that, even in these days when we are talking so glibly about ushering changes by remaining firm in our respective positions, the police take their cue from self-seeking politicians.
Winning court cases, convictions and prison sentences against even the notorious traffickers, rapists and offenders is a "Herculean task" say legal experts. The society faces an uphill struggle with a judicial system devastated by years of neglect. Even the high ups of the police administration admitted through press statements that about 75% of the criminal cases end up in acquittal of the offenders because of weak and flawed investigation reports.
The offenders enjoying protection of the political bosses routinely terrorise witnesses and thwart investigations. Sensible citizenry say in disgust that the administration needs to be reminded that there is a basic right that comes before any other -- the right to live in peace. If we can't secure this right, nothing else matters.
Mugging and robbery are soaring. One might recall a good many case in the past days where victims were gunned down in what people believed was "paid-for assassination." Shockingly, when most of the identified accused roam the streets freely, evading police arrest, and the court cases that drag on for years end up in acquittal of the criminals, people often vent their frustration and apathy towards administrative failure in such frenzied expressions of disgust and anger.
Now, the people are demanding to know what the government is going to do about the situation because it had made bold statements that it would bring about changes in all spheres. A failure to bring crime of any sort under control could cost not only the image of the government but also the journey towards democracy.
Peace loving citizens hate the chaos and the unremitting violence they see everyday. The growing loss of confidence could even produce sudden political swings that most people do not cherish. The law enforcers now are part of the problem. Until now, they didn't serve the public but protected either political or crime bosses. Without a shadow of doubt, the prime minister also realises that the continued activities of organised crime were discrediting the administration and threatening the security of the country.
Given the fact that little had been done till now to put teeth in the nation-wide crime-busting program, the administration's full outplay of energy as well as stern action against the offenders, regardless of party affiliation, would only vindicate its initiative to bolster the image that has eroded so much.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments