Rab above law?

We find no word strong enough to express our shock and consternation at the manhandling by some Rab elements of media correspondent Atiqur Rahman in Meherpur. He was roughed up to the point of being taken to hospital. What was his fault? He had merely asked a Rab vehicle parked in the middle of a side street to be removed to make way for the rickshaw he was riding home on, following Tarabi prayers after day-long fasting.

Irate over someone's 'temerity' in ignoring the visible signs of an elite force's presence, a Rab man inquired about his (Atiq's) identity -- to be only told, modestly, that he was a member of the public.

It was a red rug to the bull, as it were, and the Rab men started beating him; even when he identified himself as a journalist he would not be spared!

The local Rab chief in an attempt to explain away the incident regretted it happened and said if Atiqur Rahman had identified himself as a journalist it would not have taken place at all. This attitude is repugnant to our sensibilities, because it implies that law enforcement people are free to do anything with anyone identifying himself as a member of the public. What is a better identity than that of a citizen to be demanding that a certain courtesy is shown to him, a legitimate request is met and his right of way through a public thoroughfare respected by lawmen paid out of the tax-payers money?

Besides, what was that setting up of a 'check-post' by a Rab vehicle blocking public road space? Smacks of a cock and bull story.

Let's raise the core question about the abuse and arrogance of power in their worst manifestations through the so-called crossfire deaths which were sought to be explained away in such a manner as to breed an impunity culture in the mindset of the special force to do whatever it pleases. Meherpur incident was symptomatic of a deeper malady that must be cured with great compunction and far sight -- in a stout defence of the rule of law.