Topic- Mob Lynching: Tainting the Democracy

By- Yashraj Bais

In the past decades, India has experienced several painful and poignant
incidents of Honour Killing, Religious Riots, Kidnapping, Murder etc. But,
some recent and very famous incidents of Mob-Lynching has throbbed the
Pillars of our Democracy and also has raised a big question on the Local Police
and Governmental Authorities.

The word Lynching hugely is originated from the “Era of American

Revolution” which widely has a taste of dictatorship and despotism. ‘Lynching’
means administering justice without any legal process or legal sanction , which
even involves harassment and conscious killing of an individual by a group of
persons.

The one very basic question which usually rises in the mind of every rationale
citizen is that “How Mob-Lynching Occurs?” and “How to Prevent it?” The
official studies of various Scholars and Experts of Human Rights convey the
following reasons for an increment in the Crimes of Mob-Lynching during the
past decade:

The experts are of the view that our present legal structure doesn’t have
any effective or particular statute or a strict law preventing the Crime of
Mob- Lynching and even the Provisions of Indian Penal Code also
doesn’t clearly specifies any punishments for the offenders of this crime.
Since 2011, with the growing sphere of technological and innovative
advancement in India, Social Media (Whatsapp, Facebook) was used as tool
by some group of individuals for sparking the Crime of Mob-Lynching. As-
per the records of Home Ministry there were 54,723 cases of Child

Page 1
 Kidnapping in 2016, and 41,893 cases in 2015 among which in the Maximum
cases, social media was used as medium by the offenders to identify and
execute the crime.
The Recent Studies and Various Reliable Sources reveals that FIR in such
sensitive matters was registered by the Police Authorities only in the 60 % of
the total Cases which are reported to them of Mob-Lynching, Honour Killing,
Kid-napping, etc. occurred in year 2018 including mainly the states of
Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tamilnadu, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, etc. rest all
40% of the total cases remained un-registered and un-actioned.

Crime of Mob-Lynching has blemished the Indian Democracy and has emerged
as a serious Burning Issue in front of the Present Government. We can have
many famous examples for Mob-Lynching like Dadri Case (2015) in which a
group of villagers attacked a Muslim Man on the suspicion that he must have
slaughtered a cow and consumed it. In the recent Tabrez Ansari Case (2017) in
which a Muslim Boy of 24-yrs was assaulted with iron rods and sticks by the
Mob in a village of Jharkhand on the suspicion that he was trying to steal a
motorcycle, which resulted into his death. This is a matter of great concern and
an alarming stage for the Government to take some serious steps and punitive
measures in order to prevent such Mis-happenings in future, which includes
enactment of a statute preventing the crime of lynching like adopted in the
states of Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Rajasthan. Apart from it the following
remedial measures could be taken by the Government in order to restraint the
crime of Mob-Lynching:

Despite of our Home Ministry has issued the advisories to the

State Governments regarding the appointment of the Nodal
Officers in the Districts for preventing the crime of Mob-Lynching
but even though, it doesn’t bore any fruit or proved that much
effective as it was expected. Apart from it designation of an

Page 2
 independent officer which is free from any kind of political hazels,
intervention and red-tapim should be appointed in order to prevent,
restraint and curb the crime of lynching more efficiently and
effectively.
The State Governments should take the help of Radio Stations,
Social Media Platforms and News Stations to initiate and spread
the awareness among the public regarding the consequences of
Mob-Lynching and it’s detrimental effect to the society, law and
justice at a large.
The Government should act and remain very vigilant regarding
spreading of fake messages and rumours on the social media
platforms which results into the horrendous acts of mobocracy.
Accordingly, FIR against such individuals who are instrumental in
spreading such rumours and messages should be lodged
immediately having reference to the provisions of Information &
Technology Act, 2000.
The Central Government and all the State Governments by using
their constitutional and legislative powers must designate a special
or fast-track trial courts at each possible level in order to dispose
of the cases of Mob-Lynching and other henious crimes more
speedily and punishments to the offenders can be ensured in much
more less time as involved in the usual course of Judicial
Procedures.
The Governments should fix or allot a stipulated time period to the concerned
officials and courts for disposing off the cases of the Mob-Lynching. Any
delays or negligence on the part of any of the concerned official should made
be regarded as his “Professional Mis-Conduct” and strict administrative
action should be ensured against such official and other concerned authorities.

Page 3
 Only and Only then we can prevent and curb the crime of Mob-
Lynching in our country, not otherwise.

India is diversified country always known worldwide for it’s Unity, Peace,
Brotherhood, Traditions & Culture that it offers. Such incidents of hatred crimes
and offences are threatening the diversity and image of our country. The
government should be vigilante and take effective steps to curb the happening
of such events in near future.

It is very beautifully said that “The change begins with you”. The
change which we want to see in the society should first be adopted by
you, because till we will not change the society will never change. The
citizens should also understand their responsibilities as an individual and
learn to remain tolerant and sensible. Avoiding and condemning such
crimes can bring radical change in our present society, in which we all
can play a very important & key role.

Name- Yashraj Bais

Contact- 8965924968

Email- baisyashraj4567@gmail.com

Page 4