15 killed in 10 days
Murder of over 15 people coupled with frequent robberies and gun attacks in the capital within the first ten days of the new year mark an alarming slide in law and order.
A sense of impunity evolved among the criminals due to the government’s recent recommendations for releasing the accused in a number of murder and robbery cases, observed some police officials.
A total of 52 robbery cases have been withdrawn between January and June 2010, said sources in police headquarters. Of these, seven cases were filed on charges of robbery with murder. But the government committee concerned found all these cases were filed in a bid to harass the accused.
Police did neither prepare nor it were asked to make a list of cases to be considered as politically motivated, Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police (IGP) told The Daily Star.
Police headquarters sent a letter to the home ministry expressing concern regarding withdrawal of some cases listed under this category.
Many accused in these cases, mainly ringleaders, have been released but the authorities concerned denied providing the list of freed persons.
“If an accused is spared untried, the culture of impunity will encourage the criminals and it would be tough for the law enforces to control crimes,” said M Shahjahan, former IGP.
“If accountability of concerned law enforces are not ensured for any crime incident under their jurisdiction, no alternative will be effective in controlling crime,” he added.
Police intelligence is not proactive in most areas and even after killing or robbery incidents, they fail to find the clues immediately, observed some city dwellers. The law enforcers of concerned police stations, however, apparently remain unaccountable for the crime spree.
Eleven days after the city’s first killing incident of the year, law enforces still remain clueless regarding the killers of visually impaired Khalilur Rahman, general secretary of Jatiya Andha Sangstha, an organisation for the visually impaired.
Khalilur was shot dead at a house in city’s Mirpur on January 1 while he was attending arbitration.
Officer-in-charge Kazi Wazed Ali of Mirpur Police Station said they arrested three visually impaired persons from the spot. But they failed to reveal any clue to the murder incident after interrogating them on four-day remand.
Police are yet to make any headway into the incidents of shooting dead a BNP leader in city’s Motijheel, Awami League leader in Agargaon and robbery at AL lawmaker’s residence in Pallabi.
DMP commissioner could not be reached over phone for his comment on recent state of law and order.
