Surge in unnatural deaths points to restiveness in society
THE steady surge in unnatural deaths, ranging from extrajudicial killing by the Rapid Action Battalion and other law enforcement agencies to lynching to murder to suicides to road traffic fatalities, in recent times has naturally touched off widespread concern and accompanied sense of insecurity. Perhaps, there is a bit of uneasiness as well; such uneasiness seemingly stems from the absence of credible, let alone convincing, explanations about a few of such deaths.
The recent incidents where three women tried to commit suicide after killing, or trying to kill, their children are pertinent examples. While all the three cases seem to have a common theme, i.e. conjugal complication, it does not comprehensively explain the actions of the three women, especially with regard to the killing of their children. Psychologists, according to a report front-paged in New Age on Monday, have sought to attribute these three incidents to increase in social pressure, personal instability and self-centricity. Intriguingly still, they are of the opinion that the first incident, which was widely covered by the media, might have instigated the women of the next two incidents to undertake similar actions. Whatever the cause or the context, these three incidents, according to one psychologist, send out 'a warning for society and should be given proper attention.' We could not agree more.
There seems to be an all-pervasive restiveness in society, which could very well be rooted in a widespread sense of uncertainty and insecurity. Worse even, there seems to be an increasing disregard for human life, not to speak of human dignity. People are killing and being killed at the slightest of provocation, for the most trivial of reasons. A major reason for such widespread restiveness and sense of insecurity and uncertainty could be the government's failure to inspire in the people confidence in its ability to protect them — individually and collectively. Such absence of faith seems to have been intensified by the many transgressions of people who are entrusted with the protection of safety and security of the people. Alleged incompetence and corruption in the law enforcement system aside, extrajudicial killing by the law enforcers has also contributed to the sustained erosion of public faith.
Worrying still, the disregard for the rule of law, human rights and human dignity shown by the law enforcers may have induced in some people the urge to take the law in their own hands, as the recent incidents of lynching in Gazipur tend to indicate. More than a dozen people were beaten to death by the mob on the suspicion that they might have been involved in robbery. Vigilantism, needless to say, runs counter to the very concept of human rights and the rule of law; lynching is no less extrajudicial than killing by law enforcers in the name of 'crossfire', 'encounter', etc.
Perhaps, there is some deep-rooted malaise in society and the sudden surge in unnatural deaths may be its symptoms. Perhaps, it is time for our society to look inward, and look hard.
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