• Introduce with examples of mob violence in the country.
• Examine the reasons for the same – hate speech, social media etc.,
• Provide solutions – from the community, fraternity to the law as a solution

Answer:

The 2015 Dadri mob lynching case of Mohammad Akhlaq has started a domino effect where mob violence has become a new normal in India. According to a Reuters report, a total of 63 cow vigilante attacks had occurred in India between 2010 and mid-2017, mostly after 2014 where 82% killed are from Muslim or Dalit community. The perpetrators of such heinous crimes find silent support in political class who turn a blind eye or merely render lip service in opposition to these acts.

Causes of such Mob Violence

• Sense of impunity: the perpetrators believe to get away with such action especially since police turns mere spectator as in the case of mob violence during Jat reservation stir.

• Rumours and Fake News: spread through social media as in the case of rumours of Child abductors in North East led to violence against many outsiders.

• Rise of cow vigilante: with the silent support from right-wing political class.

• Judicial Pendency: leads to development of sense among the public that criminals would go unpunished and hence they support ‘instant justice’ by the mob.

• • Rising Intolerance among some groups.

• Lack of scientific temper: as was visible in violence by supporters of Ram Rahim.

Consequences of increasing Mob Violence

• It leads to the breakdown of law and order and respect for the criminal justice system.
• Raises feelings of insecurity among some groups, especially the minorities.
• Reputation of the country in view of world countries will diminish. 
• It would divide Indian society along communal lines and threaten the unity and integrity of the nation.

Way forward

• States such as Manipur and Rajasthan have taken a lead by making special law for ending the menace of mob violence.

• Political class should condemn such attacks unequivocally.
• States should implement Supreme Court guidelines to end mob lynching such as:
  • designate a senior police officer in each district as nodal officer for taking measures to prevent incidents of mob violence and lynching.
  • governments shall immediately identify districts, sub-divisions and villages where instances of lynching and mob violence have been reported in the recent past.
  • Curb and stop the dissemination of irresponsible and explosive messages, videos and other material.

Mob lynching unleashes a climate of fear and hatred which has no place in the composite culture of India. A social revolution is needed to re-establish the respect for law and order as well as love for our brethren.