Editorial
Deteriorating state of law and order
Odhikar report reveals disturbing facts
Rights group Odhikar in its annual report brings to light certain disturbing facts that are reflective of the overall human rights condition in the country. It lays bare the alarmingly rising trend of enforced disappearances allegedly by the law enforcing agencies, not to mention custodial torture often leading to death. The report says last year 30 persons fell victim to enforced disappearances and 17 to custodial deaths.
While extra-judicial killings had dropped to 84 from the preceding year's 127, enforced disappearances and custodial deaths saw a rise. These facts, along with other incidents of mob and gender violence, bring out a grim picture which obviously invalidates the oft-repeated government claim that the state of law and order has rather improved.
Coming on the heels of another report by the rights body Ain O Salish Kendra, Odhikar's report reconfirms how badly the state-run agencies have failed to protect the people. What is worse, these agencies, who are constitutionally obligated to provide security, have themselves become a threat to people's security.
In view of the present situation, the government should go into the allegations that enforced disappearance is but a newly adopted government strategy to replace the much criticized shoot-outs that have seriously tarnished its image.
Also the law enforcing agencies must pay proper attention to the aforementioned report while the government should act instantly to bring the agencies to act in a manner so that they can regain people's confidence as their protector.
In this regard we would also like to add that the burgeoning crimes related to gender violence owe much to our societal ailments which is why people at large should also stand guard against all forms of social crimes including stalking, rape, fatwa, abduction, domestic and mob violence.
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