Despicable crime

The shooting death of a policeman and the critical injuring of another by a wanted man in the southern city of Maan in broad daylight is despicable by all standards and recalls the lawlessness of the Wild West in the US, when bandits used to roam the country and attack innocent people and sheriffs.

This attack was not the first of its kind, as Maan has witnessed similar attacks on law enforcement personnel either because the outlaws wanted to escape punishment for their criminal acts or vent their misguided anger and frustrations on security officers.

The phenomenon of a belligerent few taking the law into their hands must be stopped. 

The integrity and the image of the country as a whole are at stake if such outlaws are not arrested and tried for their crimes. All efforts must be exerted to apprehend the shooter.

There are still people in the country who believe that they are above the law and can take the life of a policeman whose only duty is to protect the lives and property of others. 

Authorities must use all legal means available to break this vicious cycle of violence.

The government may want to put this issue of recurring attacks on police officers before Parliament as a matter of great urgency, and hold an emergency Cabinet session to discuss how to deal with it.

The Maan attack must not be taken lightly, as it is directed not only against security personnel, but the whole country.

The government must send a clear message that there is zero tolerance for crime, especially when it is directed against security forces.