Lawmaker breaking the rules

The alleged involvement of a local lawmaker from Chuadanga in the attack on a police station to free pro-ruling party activists is shocking, to say the least. How is it that the district police chief and a number of police officials can be assaulted within the premises of Chuadanga Sadar Police Station? What sort of message are we giving out to ordinary people when bombs are hurled at a police station and the attackers turn out to be not terrorists but men who claim to answer to an elected lawmaker and that too of the ruling party? Serving policemen were injured and vehicles belonging to the police were vandalised with complete impunity.

As per press reports, we understand that the policemen were abused both verbally and physically. There is something fundamentally wrong with this incident. We are dumbfounded by the notion that seems to be prevalent with some lawmakers in the land that holding a parliamentary chair gives them sweeping powers over their respective constituencies. Contrary to what these people think, there is such a thing as 'rule of law' and institutionalising that notion is the direct responsibility of 'public representatives'.

We applaud the police for doing their duty albeit under difficult circumstances. Actions by men claiming to belong to a coterie that answers to a particular lawman is reprehensible and condemnable. The incident that has occurred will do little to uplift our image as a society that embraces law and order; rather where might over peoples' will is the true law in the land.