With further spilling of blood, it has become clear that law and order in the northern districts is facing a real challenge. The law enforcers were cooperating with Bangla Bhai whose men had attacked PBCP outlaws. But the strategy had no legal basis, and it was soon realized that supporting a militant organisation, with a hidden agenda , would backfire. Finally, the cabinet committee on law and order issued a directive that Bangla Bhai be arrested.

But things appear to be far from clear now as reports say that there is considerable difference of opinion among the ruling alliance leaders about the issue. Only that can explain why Bangla Bhai has not yet been arrested. We again urge the government to disband the group which is trying to run a parallel law enforcing system.

The objections to the presence of such a group are quite obvious. First, it is promoting militancy and partaking in governmental authority, which is indeed a dangerous proposition. Second, the group has its own agenda which looks to be as pernicious as any form of ideological extremism. Third, it is violating the law in the name of fighting outlaws. The JMJ activists have already killed and maimed many people besides terrorising localities. Only the law enforcers have the authority to deal with the outlaws.

We would like to know, once more, what is happening and why the group is still not outlawed -- the only befitting status for a fanatic vigilante group like it.

The government should not be oblivious of the fact that the situation is going from bad to worse. It must act before more atrocities are committed by the JMJ men. We want them to be put out of operation and brought to justice without ado if the government likes to come clear on it.