Two former inspectors general of police (IGP) have blamed the local administration for mishandling the situation at Kansat and suggested taking immediate steps at the higher level of the government to resolve the crisis.

"The situation has deteriorated at Kansat in the absence of appropriate measures to handle the

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prevailing situation. Yet no initiative from the government high level is being noticed," former IGP ASM Shajahan observed.

Echoing the same view, former IGP Nurul Huda said the crisis should be handled politically. But the prevailing situation is not being handled properly, he said.

At least 20 people have been killed in sporadic flares of violence at Kansat of Shibganj upazila of Chapainawabganj since last January.

Shajahan questioned the role of the local administration in facing the agitation as a political party declared a counter programme on April 6 and yet the administration remained silent "unwisely" and patronised the programme. Shajahan, also former adviser to the caretaker government, said the local administration should have identified the main reasons and initiate steps to resolve the crisis on time.

"In my long career, I have never seen any incident like what has been happening at Kansat for over last three months," Shajahan told The Daily Star yesterday.

Nurul Huda said, "Senior officers, including divisional inspector general and district superintendent of police, should themselves ensure right actions and prevent the excess measures by the law enforcers there."

Both the former top bosses of police suggested holding a dialogue immediately with the agitating people to resolve the crisis.