Atiq is merely a symbol

Where we are headed as a nation is worth thinking about provided we have the collective courage to handle the truth

- Prabal Basu Roy

IN A WORLD fascinated with instant gratification, the Atiq episode seems to have conflated instant justice with the thrill of consuming instant noodles! In all the noise and fury of the past few days I felt it was best to let the froth of opinions – most of them political – subside before we could dispassionately look beyond the multivariate range of emotions which cloud the judgement necessary for an unbiased analysis of what is unarguably a very complex situation.

Popular press is merely stating the obvious, i.e., our criminal justice system is broken, religious overtones, state sponsored vigilante justice, etc. Instead, we need to calmly introspect – if at all that is feasible – on three core issues. One, what makes us as a people so delirious with joy at the extra judicial and staged killings of criminals? Two, what makes us normalise the existence of such criminals as law makers? Three, is this the best way to clean up and eradicate crime? If we have the collective courage to handle the truth, the answers to these questions will make us think where we are headed as a nation.

That many people approve of criminals being eliminated by the police is a reflection of the 30 years of free run that Atiq enjoyed as a lawmaker, and a system which perpetrated such a wanton assault of democracy. Coupled with the belief that the normal criminal justice system is incapable of delivering results, retributive justice by any means is being welcomed. Being a reflection of citizens’ will, this narrative suits politicians as well.