Law enforcers in abduction?

GOING through rights bodies' findings, accounts of victims' families and media reports revolving around the spate of abductions, one cannot help the impression that law enforcers are linked to many of the incidents coming to light. But the law enforcers not surprisingly refute such allegations saying that those are handiworks of criminals in the guise of policemen.

The alleged involvement of a section of law enforcers in kidnapping and forced disappearances itself constitutes blatant abuse of power and a grave threat to rule of law and citizen's personal security. And if on top of it,criminals impersonating as lawmen can target and abduct a citizen, civic insecurity dangerously  plummets into double jeopardy. The two trends in effect seem to be mutually reinforcing. With the 'allegations of abduction against the law enforcers rising, criminals taking advantage of the situation' masquerade as policemen to abduct a targeted person.

Sometimes ago restrictions were placed on the activities of plainclothes policemen insisting on the requirement that they be asked to produce proof of their identity or warrant by a citizen when approached by such policemen. Though that is the proper way to go, whether it is realistic will be subject to proof.

What is of seminal importance is to root for instilling respect for human rights at the law enforcement level and make them accountable for any breach. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has furnished a list of 29 people who fell victim to abduction by law enforcers between January and June this year. This calls for an independent probe.