What atrocity is this?

about 1 day ago January 23, 2013 10:48 am

DailyIttefaq Editorial

What is happening in Gazipur? In the space of 48 hours three people were brutally beaten to death in the presence of the security forces who didn’t offer even an ounce of sympathy, let alone any protection. The first victim was a mentally impaired middle-aged woman called Morzina. Unbelievably, the agitated mob not only beat the helpless woman mercilessly in broad daylight with countless people watching, but according to some newspaper reports, guaranteed her death by pressing a bamboo stick to her throat. The local police SI excused their inaction by quoting their helplessness in the face of such aggression even after the wounded victim was handed over to them for protection. The woman was wrongfully accused of being a child snatcher.  

This cruel incident occurred last Saturday in Kaliakyur upazila. On Monday two more unknown people, o one of whom was a woman, were violently killed in Shadar upazila. The woman was set on fire after she was beaten to death. A few members of the Ansar were present at the scene of the crime. Later, one of them said that they attempted to disperse the crowd but were unsuccessful. These victims too were falsely suspected of being child snatchers. We fail to understand how such atrocities ensued over what were, in fact, baseless rumors in a small town like Gazipur.

Death by mob beatings is not something new in this country. There are numerous examples of such violent incidents. The victims are later labeled as robbers, muggers, delinquents, etc. The Aminbazar incident can be the ideal example here. On the night of Shab-e-Barat 6 adolescent boys were beaten to death in the presence of a few policemen. Instead of rescuing the boys, the policemen helped the culprits file false charges of robbery against them. We don’t know what exactly happened in Gazipur but the incidents surely merit due investigation. It cannot be denied that the present law and order situation of the country is a cause of serious concern. Most of the time the progress of justice is being hampered by certain powerful sects, thus causing people to become impatient and impulsive. The Gazipur incidents are no different. The only way to prevent such aggression in future is to ensure smooth functioning of the law and to bring the lawbreakers to justice.