Nine Mob Lynching Cases across 8 States Despite SC Warning
Image Courtesy: DNA India
On Friday, the Supreme Court directed the state governments to file compliance reports within a week on the measures taken to tackle mob lynching in furtherance of its July 17 judgement. In the judgement, the Supreme Court had directed the state governments to file their compliance reports with the Court Registry within four weeks. The matter was listed for a compliance review on August 20. However, since the judgement's pronouncement, at least nine lynchings have occurred across eight states.
Also read: Supreme Court Issues Preventive Remedial and Punitive Directions Regarding Mob Lynchings
In the course of the August 20 hearing, the counsel for the Gujarat government prayed for two weeks to file the compliance report. The Court allowed a two-week extension for all the states that had not yet filed their compliance reports. Senior Counsel Indira Jaising moved a contempt petition against the government of Rajasthan following the Alwar lynching which occurred three days after the judgement's pronouncement. In this lynching case, the police who appeared at the scene, had taken the cows to a gaushala rather than take the victim to the hospital. The counsel appearing for the government of Rajasthan told the Court that action had been taken against the erring officers.
Considering that the Supreme Court has taken such a stern view of the matter, it is apparent that despite granting the state governments an extension of two weeks, they are yet to comply. What is also interesting is that since the judgement has been pronounced, lynchings have continued to occur. This indicates that the Court's directions have not been complied with.
Lynchings continue unabated
July 20, Alwar, Rajasthan. One man killed on suspicion of cow smuggling.
July 24, Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh. An Assistant Sub Inspector was attacked by the family members of a person that he and two others had arrested.
August 15, Biswanath District, Assam. One man beaten to death and three others injured on suspicion of being cattle thieves.
August 17, Motihari, Bihar. An assistant professor at Mahatma Gandhi Central University was attacked for a Facebook post which was critical of Atal Bihari Vajpayee after he passed away.
August 28, Cooch Behar, West Bengal. Man killed on suspicion of being a cycle thief.
August 29, Bareilly District, Uttar Pradesh. A man was killed on suspicion of being a cattle thief.
September 5, Bengaluru, Karnataka. A mentally ill man beaten on suspicion of being a child lifter.
September 7, Begusarai, Bihar. Three men lynched for attempting to kidnap an 11 year-old girl from a school.
September 7, Palamu, Jharkhand. Man killed on suspicion of being a thief.
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