Context: There is a need to strictly check the rising wave of crimes amid the pandemic.
Rising crimes amid pandemic:
Incidents of Black-marketing and Profiteering:
Remdesivir injection in Delhi costed for Rs 70,000 as against its normal cost of about Rs 4,000.
A hospital bed in Bengaluru was being sold for Rs 1.20 lakh.
An oxygen concentrator costing less than Rs 50,000 is being sold for about Rs 1.50 lakh.
Selling of old dirty gloves by just washing them with water or the making of RT- PCR kits with dirty hands.
Looting cash and jewellery from dead bodies in hospitals or the fleecing of people at cremation grounds.
Duping over social media: Some social media criminals are offering all kinds of help, including plasma donation.
However, are committing cybercrime by demanding money digitally at the last moment and then siphoning off the money from the bank accounts of victims after getting the credit card details.
Flouting of Covid norms: In the legislature, many politicians are flouting Covid safety protocols by holding or attending big wedding receptions and rallies where masks and social distancing go for a toss.
Many states allowed big religious gatherings like the Kumbh Mela or funeral processions like the one noticed at Badaun in Uttar Pradesh.
The Madras High Court had recently asked why EC should not be charged with murder for not banning election rallies during the pandemic.
Lack of accountability: Enough testing and tracing are not being done because there are an inadequate number of labs.
The worst is the concealing of the correct information about the number of cases and deaths by the states.
The Allahabad High Court has called the deaths due to the unavailability of medical help as ‘genocide’.
Way Forward: Strong action needs to be taken against all criminals from all fields as per the law.
Enforcing the National Security Act (NSA).
Bring in new laws: Where there is no law or inadequate law
Such crimes should be made non-bailable offences.
Fast investigation and fast-track courts should be formed and exemplary punishment given.
The properties of the guilty should be confiscated as per the provisions built into these laws.
Rewards to whistleblowers should be included in the new laws.
Enlarging the scope of Drugs & Cosmetics (Amendment) Act, 2008, which is currently restricted to drugs.
Social Boycott: Such criminals should be socially boycotted by extensively naming and shaming them.
As a society, we should learn from countries like Japan that are at their best behaviour during tragedies.