Exemplary verdicts against children killers
It is also
the expectation of the people that henceforth all cases relating to such brutal murders and acts of great truculence, specially against children and other vulnerable members of society, will be treated as special cases and will be tried promptly in special courts for the fastest dispensation of justice for their deterrent value
Two courts on Sunday sentenced six people to death and six to varying terms of imprisonment for brutally killing 13-year old boy Samiul Alam Rajon in Sylhet and 12-year old Rakib Hawlader in Khulna. The killings of Rajon and Rakib after inhuman tortures deeply shocked all sections of people in the country. Protest meetings, processions, demonstrations and human chains were held demanding capital punishment for the killers. Media became particularly proactive and highlighted the incidents befittingly. Thus, the state machinery was sensitized and took the cases seriously. The courts also deserve plaudits for delivering verdicts in the quickest possible time.
The quick verdicts may have contributed at least partly to peoples confidence in the rule of law in the country. There are instances of cases lying in courts for years together causing a lot of problems for the justice seekers. Considering the gravity of the situation, the administration swung into action. Quamrul Islam, the main mastermind behind the brutal killing of Rajon, fled to Saudi Arabia immediately after the murder to escape arrest and punishment. But the government took prompt initiative to bring him back to face trial. Credit goes to the Bangladeshi expatriates in Saudi Arabia who handed over Quamrul to the Bangladesh Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
The quick process of trial and delivery of judgment in these two cases will serve as a stern warning for the hardened criminals in the country. They may now think about the consequences of committing heinous crimes. It is also the expectation of the people that henceforth all cases relating to such brutal murders and acts of great truculence, specially against children and other vulnerable members of society, will be treated as special cases and will be tried promptly in special courts for the fastest dispensation of justice for their deterrent value.
As the custodians of law enforcement, it is to responsibility of the police to nab criminals. But the role of police was sharply questioned in the Rajon case. The nexus between godfathers and heinous criminals and a section of corrupt policemen is an open secret. In the past, police helped many criminals to flee the country or escape the normal process of law. In the case of Rajon murder, people caught 11 of the 13 criminals, while the two went into hiding. Police did not play any role in nabbing the killers, rather they played a dubious role. Just after the murder of Rajon a police sub-inspector was suspended for helping Quamrul to flee the country. Even police tried to hush up the entire case in exchange for bribes.It is very unfortunate. Police could not have their way in the face of simmering public outrage and wide media coverage.
It is expected that from now on the government will send a warning to the police administration how any lapses on the part of the latter in cases like the above will not be tolerated at all.
