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Security crisis
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It goes without mentioning that the current wobbly has totally failed to address the security crisis in the country. And, of course, the nation’s top functionary, entrusted with the task of maintaining public security, is to be blamed for ceaseless lapses.
The root cause of the failure to ward off the violence, extortion and murder committed by both purportedly political and blatantly criminal groups can be located to inefficacy and lack of direction of the current government.
Various anomalies like excessive politicisation of the police force, corruption in security agencies, and discouragement of competent and experienced personnel, among others, have resulted in a breakdown in the chain of command apart from affecting the general morale of the state security system as a whole.
The political leadership, which is more inclined towards securing power and privileges, seems to be oblivious of the fact that the solutions to the security crisis entail fundamental changes to the entire apparatus of the state.
The premise of the much-hyped Special Security Plan (SSP) is based on the belief the brutal and indiscriminate use of force will solve security problems. The SSP has made no efforts to differentiate between groups with a genuine political agenda and those that are formed solely for criminal activities. And, this myopia is propping up political and criminal groups to come closer in a shady way in Terai.
The criminal groups are also reportedly giving a portion of their extortion profits to political groups for being allowed to operate freely.
The current coalition is paying no heed to the significance of political engagement to eradicate criminal groups. As such, the armed groups, which still have connections with locally and nationally influential political leaders, are enjoying excessive leeway.
And, of course, it is these connections that give them power to further patronise groups that are wholly criminal.
The improvement of the worsening law and order situation demands broader political negotiations. There must be sincere political efforts to isolate and initiate actions against criminal gangs in way that also garners societal support.
Otherwise, it will pose a serious threat to the entire functioning of the country.
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