MOB LYNCHING

Published on 03 Feb 2025

Mob lynching is an act of premeditated extrajudicial killing by a group of people, often targeted against a particular individual or group. Mob lynching is based on some false information, unconfirmed rumours etc. Act of lynching leads to mockery of law and order.

Causes of mob lynching

• Social

• Prevalence of caste discrimination: Deep rooted caste-based prejudice can drive mob violence against individuals from marginalized castes.

• Example: In 2016, a Dalit man was lynched in Gujarat by members of a higher caste for "daring" to own and ride a horse.

• Pre-existing religious tension: Communal or religious differences may lead to tension and eventually to violence.

• Example: India witnessed 3399 cases of communal riots between 2016 and 2020 out of which many are mob cases.

• Lack education and awareness: Illiterate people are more prone to mob psychology and can be easily manipulated to serve the interest of the group.

• Fake news: The circulation of fake news has been rapid with the growth of social media which could drive such violent acts.

• Example: False child kidnapping news in WhatsApp resulted in lynching against a group of 5 in Karnataka in 2018

• Mob Psychology: People have less fear of being punished when they act in groups as it’s harder to identify real culprits. Further, there is dispersion of responsibility and guilt unlike in individual action.

• Rumours on social media: Misinformation and propagandas spread through platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp. 

• Example: Recent rumours regarding child lifters have incited many impulsive and unplanned acts of violence across the country.

• Self-appointed justice: Basic mob psychology does not believe in rule of law and the justice delivering institutions. They prefer quick justice.

• Political 

• Administrative Failure: Many feel criminals escape consequences, increasing vigilantism as government fails to ensure justice.

• Example: A recent Delhi NGO Common Cause’s report highlighted that 35% of police view mob punishment as natural for cow slaughter, and 43% for rape accusations.

• No database to analyse trends: As per Ministry of Home Affairs there is no record keeping on mob lynching. Thus, making it difficult to draw conclusions and possible solutions to the problem. 

• Example: Data collected under sub-heads of death due to mob lynching have not been published in NCRB report of 2017.

• Political manipulation: Many mob groups are associated with prominent political figures who ensure the mob gets minimal punishment which sustains such an act.

• Example: Mobs in the name of cow vigilantism have the support of many local Hindu parties.

• Limitation for police: The limited policing force finds it difficult to control such large-scale violence. The presence of a group also makes punishment more difficult.

• Economic

• Vulnerability of the poor: The economically unstable class can easily be manipulated to join such mobs.

• Competition for resources: When resources are limited, competition for them could often lead to violence.

• Example: In Kerala, a person was mobbed to death for stealing rice.

• Cultural 

• Cattle Protection Laws: In certain state laws, there is a shifting of burden of proof on victims and consequently a presumption of guilt, which leads to filing of cases against the victims only. 

• Rise in intolerance: In recent times intolerance has increased especially against marginalized people. 

• Biased view: A bias against any group due to historical or social reasons motivates mobs to commit a hate crime. 

• Example: Muslim being tagged as terrorist lead to an act of lynching against them by mob.

Consequences of Mob Lynching 

• Social 

• Fuel communalism: Mob lynching is a threat to the secular fabric of the country as diverse as India.

• Example: The 2015 Dadri lynching in India, where a Muslim man was killed by a mob over rumours of beef consumption, escalated communal tensions.

• Media Sensationalism: Mob lynching incidents can lead to sensationalized media coverage, which can further exacerbate tensions and promote copycat behaviour.

• Example: Sensational media coverage of mob lynching incidents can encourage copycat behaviour and lead to further violence.

• Rise of a retributive society: the rising cases of lynching indicates the rise of a retributive society in India, where instead of legal justice, revenge is sought to pacify self.

• Political 

• Affect human rights: The lynching by mob creates an atmosphere where human beings are dehumanized freedom of speech, expression and personal choices are endangered and plurality and diversity is not accepted.

• Example: Mob lynching is a violation of human dignity, Article 21 of the Constitution, and a gross infringement of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

• Subverts rule of law: The process of adjudication takes place within the courts of justice, and not on the streets. A crime cannot be an answer to another crime.

• Against rule of law: such acts are against the established rule of law and directly challenge the law of the land while trying to uphold the ‘law of the crowd’.

• Economic 

• Economic Impact: Mob attacks by cow protection groups have disrupted not just the cattle trade and the rural agricultural economy, but also leather and meat export industries linked to farming and dairy sectors.

• Livelihood: Mob vigilantism has seriously hurt the livelihood of nomadic herders 

• Example: Banjara nomadic community in Rajasthan.

Steps taken to address Mob Lynching 

• Strengthening Legal Frameworks: Several states introduced or amended laws to address lynching and stricter punishment for those involved in mob violence, including lynching.

• Example: States such as Manipur, West Bengal and Rajasthan have passed laws against mob lynching.

• Designated Fast Track Courts: States were directed to set up designated fast track courts in every district to exclusively deal with cases involving mob lynching.

• Community Policing Initiatives: Several police departments worked on community policing initiatives to build trust and collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. 

• Example: Police departments, in Kerala, have initiated community policing programs such as Janamithri Policing where officers engage with local communities to prevent potential conflicts.

• Monitoring Platforms: Utilize technology to monitor social media platforms for hate speech, rumours, and content that may incite violence. 

• Example: In Telangana the police officers engaged with the masses to spread awareness and also keep a vigil on the spread of fake news through WhatsApp.

• Supreme Court Directions: The Supreme Court of India issued a set of guidelines in 2018 to deal with mob lynching and cow vigilantism. 

• Example: Tehseen Poonawalla vs Union of India case issued directions on the preventive, punitive, and remedial measures to be adopted by the central and state governments.

• Involvement of civil society: Various civil society organizations, activists, media outlets, and citizens have launched campaigns and initiatives to raise awareness and mobilize public opinion against mob lynching. 

• Example: To protest against cow vigilance civil society has launched the “NOT IN MY NAME” Campaign.

• Educational initiatives: They aim to sensitize the participants about the causes, consequences, and legal aspects of mob lynching, and to equip them with the skills and knowledge to combat it.

• Example: National Law School of India University (NLSIU), have introduced courses and workshops on mob lynching and human rights for their students and faculty.

• Awareness campaign: Campaigns are being launched to educate the public of false information which drives mobs to commit violence.

• Coordination with social media platforms: The government collaborates with social media platforms to prevent the spread of rumours and hate speech.

• Example: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has engaged with platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp to curb the circulation of fake news and inflammatory content.

Way forward

• Strengthening Legal Frameworks

• Legislation: Enact or amend laws to specifically address mob lynching, defining it as a separate criminal offense. Penalties should be substantial to deter potential offenders.

• Swift Justice: Ensure that cases related to mob lynching are fast-tracked through the legal system to ensure timely justice for victims and their families.

• Witness Protection: Establish comprehensive witness protection programs to encourage individuals to come forward and testify against perpetrators without fear of retaliation.

• Law Enforcement and Judicial Reforms

• Training: Provide specialized training to law enforcement agencies on dealing with mob violence, managing crowd situations, and preventing lynching incidents.

• Sensitization: Conduct workshops and awareness campaigns to sensitize police officers and judicial personnel about the seriousness of mob lynching and the importance of impartial investigation and prosecution.

• Public Awareness and Education

• Educational Programs: Integrate human rights education and awareness about the dangers of mob mentality into school curricula to foster a culture of tolerance and empathy from a young age.

• Media Responsibility: Encourage responsible reporting by media outlets to avoid sensationalizing incidents that can incite further violence.

• Technology and Surveillance

• CCTV Cameras: Increase the deployment of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in public spaces to deter mob violence and assist in identifying perpetrators.

• Mobile Apps: Develop and promote mobile applications that allow individuals to report incidents of mob violence quickly and anonymously.

• Perception management measures 

• Victim support and Rehabilitation: Provide adequate compensation to victims and their families to help them rebuild their lives after an incident.

• Example: Jharkhand established victim compensation funds to provide financial assistance to victims of mob violence and their families.

• Psychosocial Support: Offer psychological and emotional support to survivors and witnesses of mob violence to help them cope with trauma.

• Community Policing: Promote community policing initiatives where law enforcement officers engage with local communities, building trust and open lines of communication to prevent incidents.

• Example: Schemes like Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat helps in strengthening communal harmony and reduce these incidents.

There is a need for coherent law to tackle the menace of mob lynching and the recommendations of the Rajiv Gauba Committee need to be taken into account. Also measures needed for social and attitudinal change among the masses by increasing the level of education and awareness and the spirit of communal harmony is required. 

Tags:
Security

Keywords:
Terrorism Internal Security Mob lynching Communalism Organized crime

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Internal Security