Jo Cox. File photoBritish Labour Party MP Jo Cox was brutally killed last week. The way the police and the legal system reacted to the unfortunate incident is a high example of competency.
Cox was killed in a town called Dewsbury on June 16. She was attacked by a waiting assailant who shot and then stabbed her and then waited to confirm she was almost dead. The paramedical team that reached the spot quickly took her to a hospital in Leeds, but she died on the way. All this happened in 45 minutes.
The place where the attack happened was a junction. The local chief of the police came to the spot in minutes and took over the investigation. She ordered all roads to be closed and put the nearby railway stations under high alert. Within two hours, the police arrested the assassin and also had an idea of where he lived.
On searching the house, the police confiscated arms such as guns, knives and books and magazines used by the assailant.
As per local laws, a chargesheet has to be filed within 72 hours after arrest of the suspect. Since it was a Sunday on June 19- the day the 72 hours would be up- the Magistrate Court held a special session to hear the case. The criminal was remanded to custody and the case was posted to Old Bailey Court, something similar to the High Court in India. The higher court heard the case and posted it for another day for a full trial. All this happened within four days.
What would have happened if the incident had happened in Kerala? The chief of the police in Britain took over the case and the culprit was arrested in hours. There were no hartal and no schools, colleges or hospitals were forced to shut their doors. There were no road blocks and no politician traded charges with others. The government did not interfere in the matters of the police and there were no trial by the media, only factual information was made available.
The PM, opposition leader and speaker visited the house of the deceased together and expressed their support to the family. The MPs met during a specially convened meeting and remembered the good deeds of the slain leader. All places of worship prayed for her in special prayer meetings and so did schools and educational institutions during specially convened meetings.
There is no doubt that the police, politicians, public and the media behaved in the best possible manner in dealing with the situation. It is certainly something we can emulate.
(The author is a consultant psychiatrist at Leeds)
