Muggers in recent days have become more violent. In many cases the criminals do not hesitate to kill the victims. Serious crimes like killing and rape are certainly happening frequently. This is not good for efficiency of the police.
A leading daily newspaper reported that one Zakir Hossain was stabbed by muggers who took away Tk 20,000 at the capital’s Hazaribagh around 8:30 pm on Friday. In another incident on Friday, criminals in a car attempted to snatch Helena Begum’s handbag in Dhanmondi, dragging her 200 yards. Eventually, she was crushed to death under the wheels. And what happened on December 18 would be anyone’s worst nightmare — a woman’s six-month-old baby boy fell off her lap and died as a mugger tried to snatch her purse while she was on a moving rickshaw in Dhaka’s Doyaganj area. These are some of the numerous incidents of mugging — dangerous and often fatal — that are taking place in Dhaka.
Mugger gangs move around in private cars and on motorcycles. They do not seem to fear police much. The passengers of buses, launches, and trains — are the easiest targets of these gangs. Usually, most of the general people don’t file cases to avoid hassles. They know filing of cases hardly brings any result. Even policemen are not safe from them. The gang of Shah Alam killed ASP of highway Police Mizanur Rahman who was picked up for mugging. Besides, two police officials were stabbed by muggers when they tried to catch members of a gang in Hazaribagh area.
What should be ashamed for the government that the victims of crime do not feel assured to seek police help. The criminals are so well-connected that going to police may result in more troubles for the victims. The police also on many occasions refuse to accept cases. They are active after offences like murder and rape. The true offenders are getting free because of political influence.
The harshest truth is that nobody in government has any accountability to the people. Why the public servants will not serve the people because of politics and bad discipline? That is the question that has to be answered by every public servant.
