Mark’s murder leaves us shaking

THE EDITOR: I have never met Mark Rattan, yet the news of his death has profoundly disturbed me. This senseless slaughter of a bright young man who held so much promise tells us so much of the state  this country has descended into. It tells us that no where at no time can we feel safe in this country. I think this is why Mr Rattan’s murder has shaken the national community so much. Every person has been jolted into realising that it could happen to anyone of us. The murder took place at a time when any one of us could have been out, and at a place known to be busy with lawful people going about their business.

Yet we have those apologists who continue to bury their heads in the sand and justify the present crime rate by saying that the United States and the United Kingdom have crime. That may be true, but I can tell you from personal experience that there are many many places in those countries where my family and I can walk anywhere day and night and feel completely safe, and that applies even to cities like New York and London. I myself have experienced the comfort of this kind of safety in these places many many times even though I am a “brown” person. I make no apologies for saying there is no where, absolutely no where in my own country where I can feel that kind of comfort and security.

NAUSHAD KHAN
Valsayn