Recently, the brutal killing and burning of two men in Haryana by cow vigilantes under suspicion of illegal transportation, smuggling or cow slaughtering has brought Mob Lynching into a heightened focus. The phenomenon of Mob Lynching refers to violent actions perpetrated by a large group against individuals or property, public or private, based on perceived wrongdoings. This article explores the incidents, causes, issues, and governmental responses related to mob lynching in India.
Understanding Mob Lynching
Mob lynching is essentially a targeted crime carried out by a mob, who believe they are serving justice for some perceived wrongdoing, regardless of its legality. These actions blatantly disregard established legal rules and procedures. Prominent among these incidents are acts of cow vigilantism, which reflect intolerance among vigilantes and pose a significant threat to India’s secular fabric.
Causes behind Mob Lynching
The rise in mob lynching can be attributed to several factors such as bias or prejudice among different castes, classes of people, and religions. The reverence for cows among Hindus often results in instances of cow vigilantism, perpetrated predominantly by the majority against the minority based on the presumption of bovine meat consumption. Inefficient justice delivering authorities and ineffective police administration further encourage mob violence due to lack of trust in legal procedures and absence of fear of consequences.
Issues associated with Mob Lynching
Mob lynching fundamentally violates human dignity and contravenes Article 21 of the Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It also infringes upon the Right to Equality and Prohibition of discrimination, enshrined in Articles 14 and 15 of the Indian Constitution. However, Indian law does not explicitly define or penalize mob lynching, hence it is often categorized as murder under the Indian Penal Code.
Government Measures against Mob Lynching
In response to the escalation of mob violence, the Government has instituted several preventive measures. The Supreme Court, in the case of Tahseen s. Poonawala v. UOI, laid out preventive, remedial, and punitive actions to combat lynching and mob violence. Fast Track Courts have been set up for expedient handling of lynching cases. A Special Task Force has been proposed to gather intelligence on people spreading hate speeches, provocative statements, and fake news leading to mob lynchings. Additionally, Victim Compensation Schemes are being established for the relief and rehabilitation of victims.
Implementation Status and Future Actions
So far, only Manipur, West Bengal, and Rajasthan have enacted laws against mob lynching. The Jharkhand Assembly has passed a similar bill which is currently under the governor’s consideration. Given the gravity of the situation, all states and the centre must consider comprehensive legislation to address mob lynching. Measures to curb the spread of fake news and hate speech should also be given priority.
Conclusion
Mob lynching has no place in a democratic society like India. Police inaction in cases of mob violence often relates to public approval of extrajudicial punishments by the police. Winning public confidence in legal proceedings is crucial to curbing this menace. Thus, a concerted joint effort by the government, criminal justice system, and the public is needed to eradicate mob violence.
