Syed Shemul Parvez :
Juvenile crimes committed by teen gangs are increasing in an alarming rate across the country including capital city. Sources said violence of juvenile gangs increasing with the help of influential people in the capital
According to the law and order forces, there are three hot spots for juvenile gangs in the Dhaka city. Rogue juvenile gangs are becoming more active in Mirpur, Uttara and Tejgaon areas.
Allegedly, they stay under the shelter of local influential political leaders. Because of this, the gangs cannot be eradicated, say the police.
On July 18, an 18-year-old teenager, Hriday, was killed in a clash between two groups of teenagers in the capital’s Hazaribagh. According to the police, this murder was due to a clash over a cricket game.
Investigation revealed that there are at least eight gangs are active in Hazaribagh. They are known as Lovelane, Bangla Group, Perfect Gangster, Sumon Group, Munna Group, Laden Group or Lara De Group and Akash group.
According to DMP sources, the largest teen gang of Hazaribagh is Akash group which has 14 members leaded by one Al Amin Akash.
RAB’s Law and Media Wing Director Khandaker Al Moin told the New Nation that there are at least 42 teen gangs of miscreants in the capital. And we arrested at least 370 members of teen gangs from 64 drives in the capital last two and half years.
However, according to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) sources, the number of teen gangs is 78. Their area wise statistics have also been prepared. However, the old cycle is broken when police start arresting after clashes, shootings or murders in an area. And they created new form of gang again, DMP Officials added.
The police say that only influential people like ward councilors or leaders of the ruling party are using juveniles for committing crime.
The activities of mischievous youth gangs are often seen in the streets of the capital. But the locals are complaining that the police or RAB activities are not seen before any murder or sensational incident.
In this issue, Dr. Hafiz Uddin Buiyan, Professor of Dhaka University, told the New Nation that actually the members of the teen gangs group are rogue and very reckless. They don’t abide by the command of their families. They generally take the shelter of dirty politics. Influential people take the opportunity using the gangs for their own interests, Dr. Hafiz said.
Reduction or control of teen gangs totally depends on the government good will. If the transparency and discipline return to the politics, and politicians follow the proper dimensions of Democrcy, this crime may be reduced, Dr Hafiz added.
Meanwhile, following the rise in juvenile crimes and teen gangs, the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order has been considering reducing the age limit of children/minors from 18.
