Bring youth gang leaders to justice

In the cities and towns of the country, the trend of youth gangs is becoming increasingly menacing day by day. They are involved in various crimes ranging from drug addiction to theft, extortion, eve-teasing, rape, murder, and drug trafficking. Last Friday (February 9), in response to the protest of female students in Shrinagar, Munshiganj, a youth gang from the area murdered an SSC examinee by stabbing. The deceased youth's name is Nirab Hossen. Although the police arrested 9 youths, the accused in Nirab Hossen's murder yesterday (February 10), we express our gratitude to the law enforcement agencies for swiftly apprehending the perpetrators. I want to ask in addition, whether the local senior brothers or leaders of the youth gang, under whose shelter that gang has grown, will be arrested? Because research indicates that every youth gang in the country has multiple senior brothers. They operate them in secret.

The truth of this research can be found in the description of Kazi Monwar Hossen, the chairman of the Bhaggokul union council of Shrinagar, and the president of the school management committee. He said, "They are very terrifying." A few months ago, there was a murder in Baghra Char. They were also involved in that murder.' The question is, how this gang of teenagers is getting away with such criminal acts repeatedly.

In urban and suburban areas of the country, how do these youth gangs form? Sociologists suggest that factors such as family fragmentation, individual-centric lifestyles, the lure of adventure or power demonstration, involvement with drugs, and influence from peers contribute to the formation of youth gangs in society. Apart from that, the decrease in opportunities for play and recreation for children and adolescents, diminishing access to various forms of entertainment, and not participating in cultural activities contribute to the increase in this type of delinquency.

Due to the busyness of modern times, many parents cannot allocate proper time to their children. They may not even inquire about what their children are doing, where they are going, who they are meeting, or what their needs are. As a result, these children seek refuge with their friends and prefer to spend more time with them. There, they find similar mindsets, leading to the formation of small groups. Later, these youths get involved with drugs or get influenced by the interests of influential political figures.

Furthermore, if one friend in the class becomes a member of a gang, it influences another to become a member there. Other boys may feel a bit intimidated as a result. Consequently, it fosters a sense of power dynamics among them. Later on, they may begin engaging in various crimes such as drug trafficking or resorting to illegal activities to sustain their expenses. Once involved, it becomes difficult for them to break away. Additionally, it's often observed that adolescents initially lure their classmates or friends by providing drugs for free to strengthen their group. Subsequently, they recruit them as members of their gang.

Family responsibility is crucial for deterring adolescent delinquency. Therefore, families must take measures to provide them proper education. In this digital age, adolescents have easy access to the internet, which plays a significant role in their lives. Hence, it's important for families to monitor the type of websites they visit, which can be easily inferred from device history. Apart from that, it's essential for families to monitor the friends who visit their adolescent at home or with whom they interact outside. Alongside, it is imperative for law enforcement agencies to uphold the greatest responsibility in curbing juvenile delinquency. This involves identifying and locating the perpetrators behind these youth gangs and taking measures to confront them with the law before their influence spreads further.