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Editorial

Spurt in crimes

Any denial mode can breed impunity
12 January 2011, 18:00 PM
EDITORIAL
IT gives you the shivers when you read in dailies that in the first ten days of the New Year over 15 murders took place coupled with robberies and gun attacks in Dhaka alone. Isn't this frightening? We wonder how many crimes might have been committed outside during the same period. Yet, we have the remarks of the state minister for home affairs, as reported in the press, that it is not the government but the people who are saying that the law and order situation is better than at any time in the past. The Home Minister herself has been saying more or less the same thing. But she has been surpassed by her deputy with the sweeping claim of success with law and order. If they had pin-pointed where crimes have been reduced and thereby substantiated their claims the people wouldn't have had anything to say. Clearly, that doesn't appear to be the case given the spurt in crimes of the different denominations. We believe rather than shaking off the denial mode on which criminal impunity feeds some leaders of the government are drawn into its grip. According to police headquarters source, a total of 52 robbery cases have been withdrawn between January and June 2010, of these 7 cases were filed on charges of robbery with murder. Police officials have expressed their dismay at the administrative decision to recommend release of number of accused in murder and robbery cases. A sense of impunity evolved among the criminals due to government's decision to absolve them of crimes they actually committed, observed some police officials. The question is the law should have been allowed to run its full course rather than quashing these cases through administrative fiat. Prime concern of the state administration ought to be the law and order situation. It is the most significant issue that tops the people's agenda. Even the price hike in the consumer market may take a back seat as an issue if people feel safe and secure enough. That is the test of governance for an elected government coming to helms of affairs with a massive mandate to fulfill people's expectations.

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