In a recent incident, miscreants have demanded Tk40 lakh from two businessmen in Sherpur, threatening to murder them if they fail to comply.
This threat, which was made by sending a mobile text message, highlights the ease with which such alarming extortion activities can be conducted.
Minority groups such as Hindus are particularly vulnerable to being victimised in this regard. As are many businesses which in places have to operate in environments which tolerate bribery and other illegal activities, which in turn makes them and all citizens more susceptible to being targeted by extortionists.
The police must act pro-actively to crack down on criminals who disrupt people’s lives in this type of cruel and vindictive manner.
Rule of law requires that more be done to deter thugs from making death threats and creating panic and unrest. Whether or not the criminals in this type of case intend to carry out their threats, the simple act of attempting extortion must always be treated as a major crime.
Rising rates of mugging and extortion in big cities are fueled wherever there is a lawless atmosphere in which criminals can issue threats without fear of repercussion.
We must weed out such activities by going to the root of the problem and fixing the bureaucratic and legal weaknesses which make it harder for victims to be protected by the police.
Extortion is a serious crime, and more needs to be done to end it.
