WE find the explanation of the police regarding the death of the three alleged arsonists in Mirpur on Monday hard to believe. The pictures show that the three were killed with a vengeance. We have several clarifications to seek of the police in this regard. If the three died of mob beating, according to the police, suspected of being arsonists and caught while preparing to firebomb a vehicle, why do not the bodies carry evidence of torture? How come the three bodies have dozens of bullet wounds on them? Are we to believe that the mobs were carrying prohibited bore weapons and ammunitions in public? Even if the three were arsonists, do the police approve of mob justice and the macabre killings, since we have not heard of any arrests as yet made in respect of the three deaths? 

The statements of the people of the neighbourhood suggest that they were killed in a planned and cold blooded manner, and the type of empty shells found around the bodies are not those that the pubic have access to, even those that possess licensed weapons. The indicators point incontrovertibly to the law enforcing agencies.  

We must register our anxiety at the growing number of such killings which the law enforcing agencies have passed off as encounter killings or crossfire or shootouts. This is most disturbing. We believe that even the worst of criminals must have recourse to legal process. 

We want to ask as to what is the remit of the police in ensuring public order? Can they become the judge, jury and executioner circumventing the legal process? The killings demand clarification by a thorough probe.