We have been witnessing with grave concern the rapid rise of crimes -- murders, kidnapping etc around the country. But never could we foresee such a gruesome and horrific act of crime taking place in which the victim would be cut into as many as nineteen pieces. How could any sane man resort to such mind-boggling decapitation of a self-same human body?

Such acts surpass the medieval-type barbarism. Either the criminals are turning into homicidal maniacs, or they are being openly so cruel to show off their defiance of law. They are intent upon creating terror among the victims' family and friends to ensure that their demands are met.

Living in fear has not been a new problem for the business communities in Bangladesh. But incidents of kidnapping for ransom were concentrated in a particular region like Chittagong and Chittagong Hill Tracts. Lately though, such acts of crime have alarmingly escalated into other areas. Some latest incidents in Dhaka go to prove the point.

We understand a large number of special squads in plain clothes are keeping vigil all over the city. The pertinent question is: How much their presence is going to make a difference in the situation? Initially high hopes are pinned on these special forces when they are deployed for curbing crime but down the road the expectations are dashed. Or when the leave, the situation gets back to square-one. Indeed, how is one to explain the continuing incidence of abduction and extortionist behaviour and the oft-repeated deployment of special squads. Actually, ad-hoc measures can't solve an endemic problem characterised by poor law and order infrastructure topped off by politicisation. The criminals seem to be carrying arms freely, while the businessmen remain protectionless. It is time, therefore, that the authorities seriously consider allowing business persons to carry licensed arms for their own protection. But most of all, what we need is to ferret out the culprits and mete out deterrent punishment to them.