Special drives fail to tame crimes in Jhenidah

Crimes including murder, rape and abduction increased, much to the concern of 18 lakh people in six upazilas of the district.

But the incidents of extortion, robbery and tender manipulation have marked fall, police claimed.

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According to police records, newspaper reports and other sources, at least 271 murders took place in the district in last four years since takeover by the coalition government.

Of these, 71 were in 2002, 75 in 2003, 101 in 2004 and 76 in the last ten months (January 1 to October 10).

Of the murders, 68 were committed in Sadar upazila, 56 Harinakundu, 45 in Sailkupa, 32 in Mohespur, 32 in Kortchadpur and 38 were in Kaliganj upazila. The Sadar upazila topped the list.

The victims included two journalists, 18 political leaders and about 80 activists of political parties and outlaws. Most of the outlaws were killed by their rivals.

At least 152 incidents of abduction for ransom took place in the district in last four years-- 36 in 2002, 40 in 2003, 47 in 2004 and 29 in last ten months.

At least 57 woman were raped during the period. Of the victims, 17 were in the Sadar upazila, 15 Kaliganj, 7 in Mohespur, 12 in Kortchadpur and 6 in Sailkupa upazila.

Hardened criminals and outlawed party cadres were mainly responsible for the downslide in law and order, high officials in police said.

According to police sources, at least 10 outlawed parties with 1000 armed cadres grouped in 20 gangs are active in the district. They possess about 500 illegal firearms, which they use to carry various criminal activities, sources in intelligence agencies said.

The parties active in the district are Purbo Banglar Communist Party (PBCP-ML), PBCP-Janajuddho, Biplobi Communist Party (BCP), New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP), Banglar Communist Party (BCP-Laltu), Gono Mukti Fouz (GMF), Jashod Gono Bahini (JGB), Socialist Party (SP), Biplobi Anuragi (BA) and Chinnomul Communist Party (CCP).

The most active among them are PBCP-ML, PBCP-Janajuddho, NBCP and GMF. Their members committed at least 200 murders in the district, police said.

The law enforcing agencies launched at least three special anti-crime drives in the southwestern districts in the last three years. But the downslide in law and order could not be checked.

Even deaths in 'crossfire' with Rab (Rapid Action Battalion) and police failed to improve the situation.

Police said 37 alleged criminals including 32 outlaws were killed in 'crossfire' in the district since last year.

"The situation will not change overnight in the district where at least 10 underground parties unleashed a reign of terror for the last 30 years", Jhenidah Police Superintendent Akram Hossain told this correspondent recently.

He however, claimed that crimes like extortion, robbery and tender manipulation have fallen.

Several drives like Operation Clean Heart and Operation Spider Web were launched in the area. But criminals escaped arrest mainly due to information leak, allegedly by a section of policemen and pressure from some leaders of major political parties.

A police official seeking anonymity said a section of policemen have links with criminals and they leak information before any drive is launched. Besides, some political leaders in the district are involved with various criminals' gangs including outlawed parties.