Killings decline, robberies increase in Jhenidah

Robberies increased but incidents rape, extortion and tender manipulation declined, police records say.

Forty-nine people were murdered in the district last year against 67 in 2004 and 56 in 2003. The victims included political leaders, public representatives including a municipality chairman, Union Parishad members and businessman.

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According to police, 48 incidents of robbery took place last year against 21 in 2004 and 26 in 2003. Police recorded 17 rape incidents during period against 40 in 2004 and 57 in 2003.

Police and newspaper records show that 45 people were abducted last year against 47 in the previous year.

As the incidents of murder, rape, extortion and tender manipulation mark decline, police officials in Jhenidah claimed that it was an improvement in the overall law and order in the crime-infested district because of vigilance by law enforcers.

"All out steps have been taken to check crimes and there has been some success. We are hopping more success in an area where outlaws unleashed a reign of terror for the last 32 years", Jhenidah Police Superintendent Akram Hossain told The Daily Star.

A high ranking police officer not willing to be named however said, "It will not be easy to root out crimes overnight as most of the outlaws and criminals behind murders, abduction for ransom and extortion are sheltered by leaders of both ruling and opposition parties here".

A section of leaders of big political parties always shelter the criminal gangs and outlaws in the district because they use them to establish their supremacy in their areas and to rig vote during election which is an old tradition here, he said.

According to police and intelligence sources, at least 11 outlawed parties with over 1000 armed cadres are active in the six upazilas of the district. They have over 500 illegal firearms, used in crimes, the sources said.

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

The most active among the outlawed outfits are PBCP-Janajuddho, PBCP-ML, NBCP and Gono Mjukti Fouz (GMF).

"Deaths of outlaws and hardened criminals in 'crossfire' with law enforcers have also helped in improvement in law and order. They (outlaws) were mainly responsible for a slide in law and order", another high police official said seeking anonymity.

According to the police official, 30 hardened criminals were killed in 'crossfire' from November 1, 2004 to August 30, 2005.

Of the 'crossfire' victims, 27 were top leaders and cadres of outlawed parties, two were bandit leaders and the other was an extortionist, he said.

Of the 'crossfire' victims, 13 belonged to PBCP-Janajuddho, 11 to BCP, one each to GMF and JGB and two were bandit leaders, he said.