8,597 Arrests in 24 Hours: Growing Fears of Authoritarian Overreach
Operation Devil Hunt has raised serious alarm over the conduct of the Yunus-led interim government, exposing troubling patterns of governance and law enforcement.
Within a span of just 24 hours, 8,597 individuals were reportedly arrested nationwide—a figure so extraordinary that it demands urgent scrutiny. These arrests do not appear to be the result of targeted, evidence-based investigations. Instead, they reflect a sweeping dragnet in which individuals are being detained indiscriminately, often without clear charges, warrants, or transparency.
Under the pretext of maintaining “law and order,” the government has effectively normalized mass and arbitrary arrests, with law enforcement agencies allegedly encouraged to detain individuals on sight. This practice undermines the very foundations of justice. It represents not lawful governance, but state-sanctioned intimidation.
Such actions constitute grave violations of fundamental human rights, including the right to due process, protection from arbitrary detention, and the presumption of innocence. When thousands can be arrested overnight without accountability or legal clarity, the issue transcends crime prevention and enters the realm of authoritarian overreach.
Operation Devil Hunt increasingly appears less focused on public safety and more aligned with instilling fear, suppressing dissent, and consolidating power through coercive means. These developments pose a serious threat to democratic norms, civil liberties, and the rule of law.
