Anti-crime drive

WITH the deteriorating crime situation in the country, especially in the capital city, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) announced plans for the second time in the media to carry out raids to apprehend listed criminals. We are aware of very little result achieved by them in the last week's drive as the top terrors or their godfathers remained out of the dragnet. In the first phase of the drive they only succeeded in apprehending some drug addicts, small-time peddlers or muggers. When the crime network apparently remains one step ahead of the police, we wonder why should DMP send wrong signals to them by making its plans public? It is only likely that immediately after the announcement, thugs flee to take refuge in some safer areas and remain there as long as the hullabaloo lasts.
Safety of life and property has become a matter of great concern for the citizens who do not dare to walk alone on the streets any time of the day or night. Their fear for their lives has further intensified after some recent incidents of homicide and waylaying of people by armed thugs. Hijackers in taxi-cabs and CNG autorickshaws continue to operate after dusk. Criminals with poisonous ointment and cold drinks make passengers unconscious in buses and trains and loot their belongings. Armed goons raid shops and business houses demanding tolls and they do not hesitate to shoot someone down when resisted.
Against this background, DMP has once again publicly announced launch of its second 5-day drive ostensively to catch hardened criminals. This time around they wish to round up bigger fish like professional killers, robbers, extortionists and other hardened criminals. It may be easier said than done, as some police intelligence sources believe that increase in the intensity of criminal activities suggests that the arrests and recovery of arms did little to stop the downward slide in law and order. Many of the arrested and sentenced top terrors reportedly operate from inside jails with the help of cell phones allegedly supplied by unscrupulous members of jail administration. We believe the police and jail authorities will have to look into this allegation seriously.
Continued threat to life and property can make citizens grow bitter about the administration; therefore, the government has to take well-thought out, discreet and energetic measures to ensure that criminals are arrested and put behind bars.