A death in Amritsar

THE killing of Vipin Sharma, district president of the Hindu Sangharsh Sena, in Amritsar marks the fifth murder of the leader of a Hindu organisation in the past two years. Police investigation should shed some light on the unfortunate event. However, till now, the police has been unable to identify the killers of several Hindu and non-Hindu religious leaders. This is in spite of the involvement of the CBI and even the National Investigation Agency, which was entrusted with the investigation of the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain. With many victims being activists of the same religion, albeit different organisations, there is sufficient reason to suspect that the disturbing pattern is aimed at instigating communal trouble in the state. In other murders, the killers had their faces covered. In the latest incident, the turbaned face of one is visible. What exactly this means remains to be seen.

The number of heinous crimes in Punjab has been a cause of concern. High-profile murders have been in the spotlight, but overall, the way of the gun has gained currency, with criminals escaping too many times. Targeted murders, like the recent ones aimed at activists of a particular community, need to be solved quickly. Only facts can help lay ugly speculations to rest. 

Political leaders would do well to remember that this is not a new development; the problem has been there since the time of the previous government. Trying to make political capital from this tragedy would be extremely short-sighted. On its part, the government must entrust the case to a team that can produce results, which the police has conspicuously failed to do so far. It must use its intelligence wings to ensure that no vested interests, indigenous or foreign, are given any chance to vitiate the peace in the state once again. This peace has come at a pretty steep price; it cannot be allowed to be jeopardised by petty politicians and their petty games.