Recent months have seen an alarming rise in the number of forced disappearances of all kinds of people, including businessmen, students and political activists.
Ain O Salish Kendra reports that 30 people disappeared in the first two months of this year, of whom nine have been found dead, two have been returned.
Little recourse is available to families when people disappear especially if bodies are not found, as it is difficult to bring concrete cases against perpetrators.
Immediate steps are needed from relevant authorities to put a stop to this terrifying trend.
Allegations have been made by victims’ families that members of law enforcement bodies have been involved in some of this year’s disappearances. The inspector general of police must act on past promises to take action if law enforcement agencies have been implicated in abductions.
Law enforcement agencies are a fundamental pillar of democratic society. They have to be transparent in proving they are accountable to citizens.
If officers responsible for peoples’ protection become predators, the result is far more harmful to the state of law and order, than similarly heinous crimes committed by private individuals.
When suspicious circumstances and abuses occur, the onus of proof should not be put solely on citizens to prove that criminal elements exist within law enforcement itself.
Investigations and oversight by an independent body are needed to root out any criminal elements within our law enforcement agencies, before the state of law and order deteriorates further.
