Editorial
Criminals targeting cars
Deal with them ruthlessly
As many as 159 incidents of carjacking were recorded by the police over the last three months. And all these incidents occurred in the capital. One is certainly surprised at the figures. The bigger truth, however, is that the figures could be higher. Be that as it may, the fact that such incidents have been going up in frequency points to the dismal state of law and order not just in Dhaka but elsewhere in the country as well. It is clear that organized gangs of criminals are at work and indulge in their acts in various ways. Sometimes they simply pounce on individuals in cars cruising on the road; sometimes they shadow a car before finding an opportune moment to terrorise the driver into parting with the keys. In many instances, car robbers have acted violently, leaving drivers wounded from attacks with sharp weapons.
Incidents of carjacking must necessarily be observed as part of a bigger picture of lawlessness. Of late, murder, kidnapping and rape have featured increasingly in the news. With car stealing or commandeering now coming into the list, it now becomes a critical question of whether the law enforcers are in a position to roll back the slide and, more importantly, willing to do it. Carjackings have happened earlier too, but the difference between then and now is that these days it is not empty cars that are stolen. The criminals today are not loath to go up to a car owner or driver and ask him to hand it over. Audacity has now taken over where stealth was once the pattern. It only shows the degree to which citizens' security has dwindled.
The police have certainly been nabbing car thieves. That is appreciable, but more to the point would be a sustained, ruthless operation against these criminals before they spread their tentacles any further.
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