What is the issue?
- The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recently released the much-delayed crime data for 2017. Click here to know more.
- The absence of figures relating to incidents of lynching hints at a deliberate attempt to conceal the data.
What do other reports show?
- Figures available from various other sources indicate that in 63 incidents, 28 persons were killed between 2010 and 2017.
- Of this, 24 were Muslims.
- There have been 266 cases of lynching since 2014 and this continues to show an upward trend.
- This makes an adverse impression about the role of the police in arresting such trends.
- The recent incidents of mob violence include that of Tabrez Ansari, and Qasim Qureshi and Samiuddin.
- [The 24-year-old Tabrez Ansari was brutally beaten by a mob in Jharkhand for alleged theft, eventually leading to his death.
- Qasim Qureshi and Samiuddin were brutally attacked in Hapur, U.P., resulting in the death of the former and serious injuries to the latter.]
What were the governments’ responses?
- The Supreme Court has directed the Centre and all states to frame stringent laws against lynching.
- Manipur passed an anti-lynching law in November 2018.
- Rajasthan and West Bengal have passed such legislation more recently.
- West Bengal’s law is stringent, punishing with death those held guilty of lynching victims to death.
- But these will be futile unless they are strictly enforced on the ground.
- Political patronage to fundamentalist elements will deter the policemen from doing their duty.
- Among other recommendations, the U.P. State Law Commission has emphasized on taking stringent action against officials for neglect of their duties.
- The district magistrate and police officers can be imprisoned for a term extending up to 3 years with a fine up to Rs 5000.
What are the other measures needed?
- The police should monitor fake news and arrest those who originate and forward news that could trigger mob violence or communal unrest.
- They should also strengthen the intelligence network so that any plan to upset the law and order machinery is reported to the control room immediately.
- Districts that are communally sensitive ought to have additional armed and well-equipped companies to get to the spot within minutes.
- Prompt investigations into incidents of mob lynching followed by arrests and trial by fast track courts could go a long way in curbing such incidents.
- The police should take responsibility to protect the witnesses and the victims from threats of withdrawing the case and other such influences.
- In the interest of the victims and the witnesses, lynching must be made a non-bailable offence.
- Policemen who watch as mute spectators should also be tried in the same manner as the perpetrators.
Source: Indian Express
