The recent petition submitted to the Supreme Court by the National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has brought a pressing issue into the limelight – Mob lynching and religious fundamentalism. The petition focused on the apathy and inability of the Ministry of Home Affairs and various state governments (Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Haryana) in curbing mob violence on Muslims instigated by cow vigilantes.
Understanding Mob Lynching
Mob lynching, an act of collective and often brutal violence, is carried out by large groups of people against individuals they perceive as wrongdoers. The attackers often bypass legal rules and procedures, taking matters into their own hands.
Cow Vigilantism: A Threat to Secular Society
Cow vigilantism refers to violence perpetrated in the name of cow protection. It poses severe threats to the secular fabric of society, with innocent lives being lost due to mere suspicion of beef consumption. The level of intolerance displayed by these vigilantes is alarming and harmful to societal harmony.
Lynching Statistics in India
Data compiled by India Spend website shows that between 2010-2017, 28 people were killed in 63 incidents of violence related to cows. The worrying fact is that nearly 97% of these attacks happened after 2014, indicating a significant increase in such violent incidents. Furthermore, about 86% of the victims were Muslims, raising concerns about targeted violence against a specific religious community.
Causes of Mob Lynching
Lynchings can be triggered by perceived threats to culture or identity, spread of rumors and misinformation, economic and social tensions, political manipulation, ethnic or communal divisions and moral vigilantism.
Legal Issues Related to Mob Lynching
Violence of this nature violates human dignity, Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, and infringes the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Although a grave crime, mob lynching isn’t classified as murder under the Indian Penal Code as it isn’t explicitly mentioned.
The Tahseen Poonawala versus Union of India Case
In 2017, the Supreme Court defined mob lynching as a ‘horrendous act of mobocracy’ and reinforced that it is the state’s ‘sacrosanct duty’ to protect its citizens’ lives.
Remedial Directives Given by the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court provided seven remedial directions, which include the appointment of a nodal officer, immediate lodging of FIR, personal monitoring of investigation, timely filing of chargesheet, victim compensation scheme, action against non-compliance, and disciplinary action against negligent officials.
Government Initiatives to Handle Mob Lynching
A few governments have enacted laws against mob lynching. Awareness campaigns have been launched in some districts. Incentives like victim compensation have been introduced in states like Goa. In addition, social media campaigns are being used to curb mob violence in cities such as Hyderabad.
Conclusion and Way Forward
The dire need of the hour is a ‘minimum uniform amount’ for victims of lynchings and mob violence. Lynchings have no place in a democratic society like India, and it is crucial to eradicate mob violence. All states and the Centre should focus on introducing comprehensive legislation about this issue, like Manipur, West Bengal, and Rajasthan. Measures should be taken to curb the spread of fake news and hate speech.
About National Federation of Indian Women
The National Federation of Indian Women is a women’s organization in India, affiliated with the Communist Party of India, and was founded on June 4, 1954, by leaders from Mahila Atma Raksha Samiti, including Aruna Asaf Ali.
