Thousands charged after Dhaka attack

The public lacks faith in the police system

By Alistair Lawson BBC correspondent in Dhaka

Police in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka have taken the unusual step of initiating criminal charges against at least 7,000 people after a mob attacked five suspected criminals and gouged out their eyes.

The five suspects were being escorted earlier this week in the Pallabi area of the city by officers who wanted them to identify a hidden arms cache.

But when they were recognised by local people a mob of several hundred people attacked them.

Police say they have not been able to identify any of the assailants and are charging the whole crowd.

It is not clear why police have taken the unprecedented step of charging so many people.

One theory is that it is a symbolic gesture to offset criticism that they should never have let the attack on the five suspects happen in the first place.

Police officers escorting the suspects were also injured in the attack.

Local people accuse the gang of a series of crimes in the area, including murder, rape and torture.

When they saw the suspects, a huge mob gathered and forcefully took them away from the police before beating them up and gouging out their eyes.

Vigilantes

Such a gruesome attack is embarrassing for the government. They recently ordered thousands of troops who have been helping the police to enforce law and order back to barracks.

The government argued that crime levels had been reduced after the military had been patrolling the streets for three months.

But this attack shows Bangladesh's ongoing battle against violent crime has not yet been won. There were more than 100 public lynchings last year alone.

For the people of Pallabi, a deprived area in the west of Dhaka, news of the mass charging has been met with consternation.

Most realise the police do not have the facilities to detain so many people for questioning. They have accused officers of resorting to desperate measures in order to pacify a government eager to see progress made in the war against crime.

Local residents complained that in addition to being charged, they faced the twin hazard of a retaliation attack by criminal gang members.