CONTINUED mob violence, with no apparent sign for an early let-up, is worrying, especially because of its implications for law and order. In the latest development, a man, suspected of being a mugger, was beaten to death by a mob at Tongi in Gazipur at night on February 25. The police, who could not identify the deceased until February 26, say that they took away the man, alleged to have tried to snatch a mobile, to hospital unconscious where he was pronounced dead. In another incident that night, two young people, also suspected of being muggers, were beaten up by a mob and hung upside down from a footbridge, as a video clips shows, at Uttara in Dhaka. One of the two is in Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the other is in police custody. A man, alleged to be trying to snatch a mobile, was beaten up by a mob in Sylhet that night. Rights group Ain O Salish Kendra in its monthly update says that at least 112 people were beaten to death in six months since August 2024 and 16 of the incidents were recorded in January alone.
Rights activists have expressed concern about growing incidents of crimes, which include mob violence, putting it all down to a breakdown of the rule of law and calling for an urgent government action to improve on law and order. The government has already stepped up joint patrols and set up check points to curb crimes. The Dhaka city police say that 500 patrol teams are deployed in the metropolitan areas. They have also arrested 289 people involved in mugging, robbery, extortion, theft and drug peddling in 24 hours ending in the morning on February 26. But the situation on the ground appears warranting more government efforts. The home affairs adviser on the day has called out the public on not taking the law into their own hands. Experts say that a weak criminal justice system, impunity for the law enforcement agencies and the lack of public confidence in the agencies are major factors that prompt the public to take the law into their own hands. The public is said to be increasingly inclined towards mob violence in the absence of stringent, visible government action in law enforcement.
If the proposition of weak law enforcement is the reason for lawlessness such as mob violence, the government should immediately mind the enforcement issues by tying all loose ends but in keeping with due protocols. The public should also deter crimes, if they can, but the people should not take the law into their own hands.
