“ALIJA BALJAGIĆ HAS HELPERS”: Police expert reveals what is hindering the investigation into the double murder!

Information about the possible movement of Alija Balijagić, suspected of double murder, could help him track the activities and intentions of the police and thus avoid arrest, according to interlocutors of the RTCG Portal.

Suspected of two murders in the village of Sokolac near Bijelo Polje, Alija Balijagić has been evading justice since October 25, despite great efforts by the police and army to find him. Every day, the police are called by a large number of citizens who report seeing the fugitive, but so far every report has turned out to be false.

Serious obstruction of the investigation

Police expert, president of the International Police Organization of Montenegro, Ivan Pekić, pointed out that the media constantly publishes information about the possible movement of the suspect, so that it can seriously hinder the investigation and the work of the police.

“Such reports often do not come from official sources, so they are unreliable in themselves, but they can enable the fugitive Alija Balijagić to track the activities and intentions of the police. In this way, this fugitive gains insight into where he is being sought and can adapt to avoid arrest,” Pekić assessed.

Lawyer Veselin Radulović, however, emphasizes the police statements and believes that they should not publish what actions and in which locations they are taking in the search for the fugitive.

“In this way, the search is certainly being hindered. On the other hand, the information that the media publishes can sometimes be of interest for the protection of the safety of citizens who could be endangered by an armed fugitive,” says Radulović.

Pekić points out that police searches, especially when it comes to suspects of serious crimes such as aggravated murder, often require an element of surprise and discretion.

“Media reporting that reveals details about the locations where the police are searching or where the suspect was allegedly seen can give the fugitive an advantage in this case Balijagić, especially due to his knowledge of the terrain, which is very inaccessible and harsh. In some countries, the police use strategies and explicitly appeal to the media not to reveal details that could hinder the investigation, especially when it comes to dangerous fugitives like Balijagić, which the police in our country do not often do,” Pekić pointed out.

The police, he explains, can use several approaches to reduce media interference in the investigation.

“It can implement proactive communication with the media, while the police can hold regular press conferences where they would carefully filter the information they share. In this way, the media gets the necessary information, but without details that could jeopardize the search. With clear and accurate information, the police can preempt media speculation. The police must appeal for responsible reporting and ask the media to refrain from publishing unofficial and unconfirmed information related to the investigation. With an explanation of how such reporting can jeopardize field work, the media will think more carefully before publishing information that can be used by fugitives,” Pekić pointed out.

It is necessary to mention the tactic of “media silence” at critical moments.

“In cases where the element of surprise is crucial, the Montenegrin Police Administration can appeal to the media to temporarily not report on the search until key operations are completed. This is a tactic that is already used in some serious investigations and operations in the world. Directing the focus of the media is very important because the police can provide a framework of information that directs public attention to security aspects, such as warnings to citizens of Bijelo Polje and the surrounding area to be on alert, without revealing exact locations. For example, instead of announcing specific locations, citizens in a certain region can be called upon to report suspicious activities, which also helps without compromising secrecy,” Pekić explains.

PRATITE NAS I NA FEJSBUKU:

Criticism of the actions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and police management

Commenting on the fact that the media reports daily on the movement of the police, Radulović said that the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Police Administration, or rather their leaders, are responsible for this.

“Unfortunately, the actions of the management of the Ministry of the Interior and the police in this, as well as in some previous cases, are extremely unprofessional and inappropriate. It seems that this tragedy is also being used for tasteless political promotions, and it seems that it was more important to show how the minister came to the scene, although he does not belong there because he is certainly not capable of joining the search, but his presence can hinder the search because the police also have to worry about his safety,” Radulović pointed out.

He says that the level of irresponsibility, incompetence, and very often “tastelessness and rudeness among the most responsible people is unbearable.”

“The perpetrator had helpers”

Lawyer Aleksandar Kovačević points out that the entire state must be in the function of the security of citizens from terrorist attacks, natural disasters, classic crime, traffic safety, and at work, which is obviously not the case in our society and that is why what happened to the residents of the village of Sokolac.

“It is very likely that the perpetrator had helpers and that this is not a random murder by a disturbed perpetrator but a well-planned terrorist act with the aim of destabilizing the state and instilling fear and panic in the people and distrust in the security authorities,” he assesses.

Kovačević points out that the security of society depends on several very different multidisciplinary entities, and that there must be subtle coordination between the military, police, and administrative bodies whose activities must be firmly regulated by legal provisions.

Balijagić introduced himself as a hunter looking for a lost dog, and in the village of Sokolac, he was a guest of the locals who, after a few days, became suspicious and reported him to the police.

Brother and sister Madžgalj, however, did not wait for the police intervention and the arrest of the convicted criminal.