The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Beyond law and order

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Thursday, Nov 17, 2005

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Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Beyond law and order

The editorial, `A shocking failure of security" (Nov. 16) has succinctly prioritised three premises based on which the Jehanabad jailbreak must be analysed: A month-long election exercise focussed on a different area; the anarchic situation of Bihar further augmented by the class-caste emphasis by all political parties; and the need to go beyond the law and order problem and place the endemic caste and class violence in a larger socio-economic context. It is time for an end to caste politics. The fruits of development must reach the marginalised.

Hilda Raja,
Chennai

* * *

The sad truth about Bihar is that it makes the headlines for the wrong reasons, and the reasons are not far to seek: Lalu Prasad as de jure and de facto Chief Minister has been pampered by his allies, enabling him to turn a blind eye to the pressing case of ameliorating the condition of the underprivileged sections. Adding to the people's woes is the unmitigated corruption at all levels of the administration. If the security guards of the Jehanabad jail were outnumbered, the question is: what were they armed with?

M.K.D. Prasada Rao,
Ghaziabad, U.P.

* * *

It is a monumental lapse of the intelligence wing that it did not even have an inkling about the gathering of about 1,000 naxalite cadre for the attack on Jehanabad. This could also trigger caste violence in Bihar. The Centre should take adequate measures to contain the violence.

Krishna Prasad,
Thiruvananthapuram

* * *

The State Intelligence Department has plenty of explaining to do for this unpardonable security lapse. The Centre should formulate a breakthrough plan to combat naxalism.

C.R. Venkatesh,
Bangalore

* * *

The problem in Bihar is that the criminals enjoy political patronage. Cut that umbilical cord and the situation will undergo a dramatic improvement. But the old dilemma remains: who will bell the cat? Naxalism in Bihar and in many other parts of India requires a sustained campaign to tackle it.

J. Akshobhya,
Mysore

* * *

All the past actions of the naxalites in Bihar pale into insignificance before Sunday's jailbreak incident. The sheer scale of the crime is mind-boggling. There is also the possibility that those kidnapped — over a dozen members of the rival Ranvir Sena — may be done to death.

Jayatheertha S.A.,
Hyderabad

* * *

The jailbreak incident is another instance of the lack of governance in the State. Both the naxalites and the members of the Ranvir Sena have had a free run in the State for some time. The growth of the Maoists in neighbouring Nepal has only had the effect of strengthening the naxalite movement in Bihar.

It is time the leaders wake up and take steps to remedy the situation.

A. Umakantha Sarma,
San Jose, California

* * *

How many more such attacks are needed to awaken the government out of its slumber? We can ill-afford to treat the naxalite problem purely as a "social" one.

Hari Thampy,
Thiruvananthapuram

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