THE newspapers of Sindh, depicting the performance of the government, resemble a crime diary. Not a single day passes when we do not read news that brings tears to the eyes of readers.

However, some incidents are particularly painful and create a lasting impression on people. Such news was reported from Kandhkot, where a minor girl … the daughter of a labourer … was kidnapped and strangulated after culprits removed her earrings. The matter was immediately reported to the police after the kidnapping; the law enforcers responded with their traditional negligence and did not take immediate action. After nine hours the child’s body was recovered from the street of a locality. Hundreds of people staged a sit-in to protest the gory incident.

Increasing violence in Sindh is painful, but it becomes even more painful when the victims are children. Marginalised sections of the society — children and women — become easy prey for perpetrators of this violence. Kidnapping of children reflects a vile mentality and attitude. It makes us question our ‘civilised’ society.

There are laws for the protection of children, but they are not implemented. When laws are not implemented what purpose do they serve? The beast-like criminals snatched the life of an innocent girl for gold earrings. It is strange they did not feel any sympathy when committing this brutal act. What sort of society are we living in where such incidents are taking place?

As police did not act in a timely manner, the job of the predators was made easy. Can any authority or institution hold the police accountable for such behaviour? The victim was the daughter of a poor labourer; if she had been the daughter of some minister or feudal or industrialist, the police would have taken action.

We appeal to the government that the killers of the innocent girl should be immediately arrested and negligent police officers should also be held accountable so that such an incident may not take place in future.— (Sept 1)

Selected and translated by Sohail Sangi.