Murders double in S-W dists in a year

A total of 583 murders were committed in ten districts of the division last year against 285 in 2002, police records show. This is the highest figure since 1994.

This shows an alarming deterioration in he law and order situation last year.

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The victims of murder include 12 policemen, 46 political leaders and activists, seven elected representatives, 166 extremists, and 34 farmers, contractors, doctors and businessmen.

Besides, 156 women and children died from rape and repression, while 162 others were killed in clashes and from family feuds during the period.

According to police records, 378 people were murdered in 1994, 409 in 1995, 438 in 1996, 466 in 1997, 581 in 1998, 499 in 1999, 380 in 2000 and 333 in 2001.

Police sources said the crimes increased last year as several operations by law enforcers, including the Operation Clean Heart, Operation Spider Web and the ongoing operation by joint forces failed to make any remarkable result in recovery of arms and arrest of criminals. Few notorious extremists were caught during 1994- 2003, they said.

Rather, attack on law enforcers is on rise in the South-Western region, they said.

After "failure" of the Operation Clean Hear when 46 people died in custody, Operation Spider Web was launched in the S-W region on June 19 last year. It was withdraw after 26 days without any positive result.

The ongoing operation by Joint Forces began on October 16 last year without any code name.

Of the political murders last year, the killing of Khulna city Awami League president Alhaj Manjurul Imam in August created a sensation in the country and whipped up agitation by the opposition.

Twenty-three leaders and activists of Awami League and 22 of BNP were murdered last year. Satkhira Jatiya Party leader Syed Sirajul Islam was murdered in a bomb attack in Khulna city at noon on December 25.

Eleven policemen were killed last year in bomb and armed attacks. Fourteen incidents of bomb attack on police took place, the police records said.