Crime picture mixed

Crime trends remained mixed in the first six months of the year, with cases in three major categories rising despite declines in murder, dacoity, robbery and kidnapping, while a sharp rise in mob violence has emerged as a growing concern.

Police Headquarters (PHQ) statistics show that crimes against women and children, theft and burglary all increased between February and July this year compared with the same period last year.

Police stations across the country recorded 11,165 cases of crimes against women and children during the six months, up from 9,603 in the corresponding period last year. Theft cases rose to 4,808 from 4,590, while burglary cases increased to 1,591 from 1,383.

By contrast, murder cases fell to 1,789 from 1,999, dacoity to 265 from 353, robbery to 904 from 967 and kidnapping to 512 from 520, according to the PHQ figures.

However, rights groups and crime analysts say the official figures do not tell the whole story, particularly as mob violence has become increasingly prominent.

According to the Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF), mob violence claimed 175 lives between January and July this year.  The Human Rights Support Society (HRSS), meanwhile, recorded 150 deaths and 307 injuries in 310 incidents during the same period.

The HRSS recorded 67 deaths, 119 injuries and 141 incidents between January and June last year, indicating a sharp escalation in mob violence this year.  It also reported that 1,879 women and children were victims of repression during the first seven months of this year.

One of the most serious incidents occurred in Kushtia on 11 April, when more than 200 people, in the presence of police, attacked, vandalised, set fire to and looted the shrine of Pir Shamim Reza Jahangir in Daulatpur upazila, accusing him of blasphemy. He was beaten and hacked to death.

In another incident, three people suspected of cattle theft were beaten to death in Kaliakair upazila of Gazipur on 9 March. Crime analyst Dr Tawohidul Haque told the Daily Sun that official statistics alone could not establish whether crime was actually increasing or declining, as many offences remain unreported.

He also disputed the apparent decline in murder cases, saying the number of killings had risen and that mob violence represented a new and worrying pattern.

“The government has taken some measures swiftly to control the law and order and crime situation. However, in taking certain other steps, it has followed the pattern of previous governments – as a result of which the measures adopted have failed to bring peace of mind to the public,” he said.

AHM Shahadat Hossain, assistant inspector general at Police Headquarters, said police were focusing on identifying the causes of crimes and their perpetrators and bringing them to justice swiftly.

He said police operations to control the law and order situation were also being further strengthened and coordinated.