However, reports say that in some cases excesses are being committed. The killing of an old man in Mohammadpur and the sweeping arrests indicate that the law enforcers might have been spending the bulk of their force on wrong targets. Obviously, some stern action will follow the incidents in which some members of the police themselves were killed by criminals. Those who died in the line of duty deserve the highest measure of praise. Our hats off to them! But it must also be seen that the law enforcers keep their cool following occurrences taking a toll of their colleagues so that innocents are not victimised. Then again, it is none of the local people's fault that the police are not always succeeding in arresting the real culprits or known criminals. Why should any wrath fall on them?

People find themselves in a very awkward situation. On the one hand, the law enforcers are into combing operations which are by nature sweeping and, on the other, the wanted criminals threaten them with dire consequences, should they cooperate with the police. Their predicament must be well understood by the law enforcers, whose prime concern should be to serve the people.

People expect the much-hyped operations to be focused, and to have a highly positive impact on the law and order situation. This is still awaited. The law enforcers have to bear in mind that cooperation of citizens is needed to wipe out the crime syndicates. But the reports of police harassment and excesses give us a negative impression. It is only the anti-social elements who are benefited when relations between the police and the people sour. Moreover, such excesses are a direct violation of the law and are unacceptable both on moral and legal grounds. We urge the decision-makers to ponder over the flip-side of the operations and ensure that in the name of curbing crime, excesses impinging on people's rights are not committed.