Highway robbery apparition
A heart-rending incident of banditry and carnage took place at Madhuklali point under Faridpur district on the Dhaka-Jessore highway at the wee hours of night into Sunday. A felled tree had been placed across the road forcing three vehicles to stop near the Ariakandi bridge as the dacoits with arms swooped on one of them. They robbed passengers of their money as they hacked their way out critically injuring several passengers. They carried out the mayhem completely unchallenged.
In such a scary situation, it was too much to expect that armless passengers and operators of the other vehicles could have resisted it but they didn't even try. That basically brings into focus the role of highway police and that of local Thana personnel. Reports have it that this is the third dacoity in a series of robberies taking place in quick succession with similar modus operandi. A log was used in blocking the passage and making a ruthless job of it in each case. Police maintained no vigil on the ground, had no information about the barricade to avert the gruesome tragedy. And, they only appeared after the incident.
Their primary job is to keep the highways safe by planned and rotational patrolling aided by human intelligence. Of course, they will lend a hand in carrying the wounded to hospitals which they have done with promptitude. But they have to bear in mind that they are fundamentally responsible to prevent crimes, especially on the highways at night.
Comments