Madhes has become a hotbed of crime

Madhes Province has seen a rise in criminal activities in recent months, with several cases highlighting the deteriorating law and order situation.

On June 23, Ritadevi Yadav (50) of Kabilas in Aurahi-4 of Mahottari was killed by her brother-in-law, Jatan Yadav (45). According to the District Police Office, Mahottari, Jatan struck Ritadevi with a spade after a household dispute turned violent.

Earlier, on June 14, Haribhushan Kusbaha, the chief of Ramraja Multiple Campus in Kalaiya, was shot dead at Batara in Adarsha Kotwal-3. Police have arrested five people in connection with the case.

Similarly, on June 8, Raju Yadav of Sakhuwa Mahendranagar in Dhanusha filed a report stating his wife, Ruby (28), was missing. A police investigation later revealed that Raju had murdered Ruby and disposed of her body before filing the missing person report to appear innocent.

Additionally, police arrested Dipendra Ram (22) of Narakatiya in Paroha-8 of Rautahat for the murder of his sister, Tetari Kumari Ram (20), using a bamboo pole on June 23. According to the police, Dipendra attacked his sister during a household dispute.

Statistics from the Madhes Province Police Office show a significant increase in homicides, attempted murders, and other criminal cases over the past few years. Law enforcement officials and social activists attribute most of these crimes to disputes and family feuds.

The Madhes Province Police Office recorded 96 cases of willful murder in 2021/22. The number increased to 106 in 2022/23 and has already reached 101 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. Similarly, 271 cases of attempted murder were recorded in 2021/22. This number rose to 252 in 2022/23 and has reached 213 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year. According to the office, 8,454 criminal cases were recorded in 2021/22. This number increased to 9,844 in 2022/23 and has reached 8,664 in the first 11 months of the current fiscal year.

SP Bhuvaneshwar Tiwari of the District Police Office, Dhanusha, cites deteriorating social values, the negative impacts of foreign employment, and the breakdown of traditional family structures as some of the reasons behind the rising number of criminal cases in Madhes Province. Most of those arrested in criminal cases are in the 19-35 age group.

"The minds of our youth are becoming breeding grounds for criminal thoughts," said Sushil Karna, a youth rights activist. "Even educated young people are unable to find employment. This lack of opportunities, combined with inadequate education and drug addiction, is pushing youth into a quagmire of crime," he said. "The open border with India allows easy access to drugs. Once under the influence of drugs, these youths lose their ability to think rationally, and they don’t hesitate to commit even heinous crimes."

Raju Paswan, a human rights activist, said that the lack of punishment for criminals is a major reason behind the rise in criminal cases. "Criminal tendencies in society have increased significantly, but the strict legal measures needed to discourage this haven’t been implemented," Paswan said. "Even existing laws aren't being effectively enforced."

He added that police often fail to initiate timely investigations and weaken cases due to pressure from political parties and leaders. "These factors have boosted the morale of criminals. To control such criminal activities, it’s necessary to enhance the effectiveness of the law," he emphasized.

Women’s rights activist Subhadra Ale pointed out that political protection often encourages criminals. "In most cases of violence against women, families of victims face pressure from all sides when trying to file a complaint with the police. Village leaders and local politicians often protect criminals without understanding the facts," Ale said. "Attempts are made to settle criminal cases with small amounts of money through community mediation in villages."

Advocate Rajkumar Mahasheth stressed the need for social awareness to control incidents of criminal activities and violence. "The primary causes behind increased rates of criminal activities are poverty and unemployment. Another factor is the decline in moral education in our society," he said. "Youths are trapped in addictions. With the lack of employment opportunities in the country, young people are forced to either go for foreign employment or resort to crime."