It is too painful to look at the picture of a battered thirteen-year-old on the verge of death. Watching the video of his brutal torture and murder by a group of sadistic beasts is unthinkable. But even reading about the barbaric way Sheikh Md Samiul Alam Rajon, a small boy, was tied up to a pole and beaten mercilessly to death, makes one sick to the stomach. At one point the child begged them to stop, crying out that his bones would break but that only made them laugh and continue with their torture. When he asked for some water, they sarcastically told him to drink his own sweat. What kind of perversion of the mind turns a person into an inhuman beast? What kind of society have we created that we allow such horrible things to happen to children, to women, to the physically or mentally disabled, to anyone who is in a position of powerlessness?
The fact that these murderers put up a video of their despicable crime on facebook reveals the sick minds that not only enjoy inflicting pain on a helpless victim but also takes pride in exhibiting their diabolical actions in a public forum.
The child was accused of stealing and the three or four adults decided to teach him a lesson. We do not know whether Rajon had in fact stolen anything, it does not really matter. The fact that a child was tortured and killed in such a savage manner is what should be of concern. It reflects for one thing, that people in our society are losing their humanity, the ability to feel empathy for a fellow human being. It is seen when angry mobs beat up and kill an alleged thief or mugger or kidnapper, without any qualms or even verifying whether or not the allegation is true. It is seen when a minor girl is gang raped by local mastaans, when a thwarted wooer pours acid on a girl’s face just because she refused his proposal, when a child domestic worker is burnt with a hot spatula and when a group of perverts pounce on women and girls at a Pahela Baishakh festival.
We are becoming increasingly brutalised, insensitive, apathetic and nonchalant about the disease that surrounds us. Everyday a story of violent crime is in the news. So are we becoming a violent, unscrupulous nation that cannot protect its most vulnerable citizens?
Ultimately, it is the state’s desire and ability to punish these vicious crimes that will act as the strongest deterrent. Many such sadistic criminals go scot free after committing their diabolical acts – because of loopholes in the system where absolution can be bought or attained through influence. Torture is also common practice in our society and often those holding positions of some power are involved in inflicting it.
It will be hard to forget Rajan’s face in that picture where he is begging for mercy. It will be impossible not to remember how he was tortured and how the last breath was snuffed out of him. Let us not push out that image of a tied up child, desperately crying for his life, until his assailants are all captured and handed out the highest form of punishment.
Source: The Daily Star