We are alarmed by the recent rising trend of mob violence in the country which has cast a dark shadow over the state of law and order situation. It seems that mob-attacks have become disturbingly routine,
sometimes happening even under the very nose of the police.
It is no denying that as the rights groups say, the failure of the law-enforcers to act swiftly and decisively has to a great extent created an atmosphere where vigilante justice is becoming commonplace as the situation has emboldened the mobs. In several cases the delayed or reactive policing tacitly signals tolerance for such acts. In other instances, police intervention come too late to prevent harm already done, and only occurred after footage of the violence sparked outrage on social media. There are also instances where mobs went on the rampage while law-enforcers looked on. All this raises brows as to whether rule of law or rule of mobs will rule. However, all this is entirely unacceptable to reason and to any society that claims to uphold the rule of law.
We do not believe in the mob culture. But the way things are moving is enough for getting panicked as not less than 179 people have been lynched by the frenzied mobs, according to Ain O Salish Kendra, since the fall of the Awami League regime. A long list of persons injured or maimed for life and properties damaged by marauding mobs add to the miseries of people.
What we want is the meaningful
action to curb mob violence and to
enforce the rule of law uniformly in the country
Mob violence becomes frequent in times of political unrest. But now these types of incidents are happening at an abnormal scale and frequency.
But no visible action from the authorities concerned are seen, although the government warned that mob attacks in any form would not be tolerated. What we want is the meaningful action to curb mob violence and to enforce the rule of law uniformly in the country.
Time and again, the advisory council members made statements against mob violence, but the warning fall on deaf ears.
Even in the face of terrible incidents, we do not see any such action that can send out a strong message that those who are involved in such incidents must not feel they can get away with impunity.
At this moment, we cannot say that the police are barely functional, so, they cannot shirk responsibility in such incidents.
Amid widespread outrage stemming from different quarters the Home Adviser said the law enforcement members would be punished if they were found negligent in curbing mob violence. It is high time the government should take a special initiative to identify the individuals involved in mob attacks and take prompt action.Otherwise, this won’t stop.
