IS A CRIME-FREE SOCIETY A DREAM NOW?
We are all mindful of the rising crime rate in our country today. Not a day goes by when we don’t hear horrendous news that sends shivers down our spine. From the news of infants being raped and murdered, girls being abused by their fathers, grandfathers, brothers to people being mercilessly battered to death, the list only goes on being more depressing and terrifying. The severity of the crime becomes more heinous with each passing day. Not only human beings but animals; those poor, voiceless and helpless creatures are also becoming the victims of this cruel society. These occurrences make one wonder if there is any ounce of good left in the world.
On July 27 2020, a 56-year-old man assaulted his eight-year-old granddaughter as they were alone at home. A 12-year-old girl from Bajhang was raped before being murdered on September 23, 2020, with injuries to her head, face, and back. On December 9, 2020, a 63-year-old man was arrested for raping an 11-year-old girl when she was on her way to the market in Udayapur. On December 10, 2020, a 70-year-old woman was discovered raped and strangled to death in Mechinagar Municipality-13, Jhapa district. On April 19, 2021, a man confessed to police after murdering his sister-in-law in the street out of rage and under the influence of alcohol. On April 9, 2021, one of the most heartbreaking incidents about a dog named Khaire being killed by two men by hanging him from poles went viral on social media.
If we continue to list all the cases of crime and brutality, then we might never finish because the list goes on and these are the only ones getting media attention. There are so many cases that aren’t covered by the media and numerous are not even reported, especially the cases of rape. Rape and sexual assault are serious offences, so why are people hesitant to report them? Well, there are several reasons for this. Fear of not being believed, lack of “sufficient evidence” and unapproachable police behavior are some of the reasons why rape cases are underreported.
The “Police My Friend” movement was launched in Nepal in 2016 with the motive of regulating law and order by preventing murders and crimes as well as making the police more approachable to the general public. However, are cops truly our allies?
The recent case of an 18-year-old boy named Nubhiv Uprety who was ruthlessly beaten up and later found dead in Phewa lake has once again made us question the Nepal police’s integrity. When the family demanded a further investigation after noticing bruises all over their son’s body, the police did not seem so cooperative. The victim’s family requested the police to keep all the CCTV footage but it seems to have been tampered with now. Due to a lack of evidence, the police attempted to close the case without conducting a thorough investigation, labeling it as a suicide. A part of CCTV footage shows how mercilessly he was beaten by 3 people. The autopsy report shows there was no sign of water in his stomach, which does not explain the suicide scenario the police are trying to draw. While it has not been proven if it was a murder or a suicide, there has been an extreme lack of cooperation and sincerity from the police’s side, which makes this whole incident fishy. The only thing the victim’s family asked for was a fair and honest investigation of the case, but Nepal police have failed us yet again. This incident is now being highlighted on social media, where people are demanding justice for Nubhiv.
So, how are we supposed to believe “police are our friends” when we keep hearing incidents like this? Cases like this reflect how unprotected we are in society.
Like everyone else, I was taught from a young age that policemen punish the bad guys but as I’ve gotten older I have been forced to think what if sometimes police themselves are the bad guys.
When I was a child, I used to feel protected whenever I saw a cop nearby. I used to believe that even if anything bad happened, they would help me, but as I’ve matured, I don’t feel so secure anymore.
Policemen are said to be there for our protection and safety, but what do we do when we can not trust them? Who can we turn to for assistance? When we don’t feel safe around the very people who are appointed for our safety, what can we do?
What does a daughter do when she does not feel safe around her father, grandfather-the men who should be fighting for her safety? In whom does she place her trust?
The world is filled with hate, chaos, violence, and greed. Every other second, we hear the news of something bad happening in some part of the world. We have created such a cruel and hateful place where we can not put faith in our own family, our own blood. We don’t trust anyone anymore, not even ourselves. We’ve become selfish and violent. We’ve lost our compassion and our basic human decency.
However, this is not the world we want to live in. This is not the kind of world we want to leave for our future generations. It is everyone’s duty to make the world a better place, but as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Let us begin with ourselves. Let us all do our part to make this society a better place for everyone. We, the youth, are the country’s future. We have the ability to make a difference, therefore let us put it to good use. Let us get together and speak out against oppression and brutality. We’ve all seen how powerful social media platforms can be. Let us utilize it to magnify our voices and ensure that they are heard by the appropriate authorities. . Let us show our outrage against the corrupt system .The longer we’re going to remain silent, they will exploit us. So , let us all take a pledge to fight against this system and make our society a safer and happier place again.
(Samipa K.C : Undergraduate student currently studying in Kathmandu University School Of Management.)