Food for Thought: Lynching Horror Continues in Assam

Yet another lynching in Assam, this time in the wee hours of Independence Day, has put the State in headlines for the wrong reason. After all, the Dokmoka lynching in Karbi Anglong in June last and its shocking video that went viral is still fresh in memory. The latest incident occurred at Diplonga under Chotiya police station in Biswanath district, where a mob waylaid four persons suspecting them to be cattle lifters. In the merciless public thrashing that followed, one victim succumbed while the others are battling for life. The victims hailed from Bholaguri area in the district, and locals there insist they were pork sellers who had only gone to Diplonga to buy pigs as per prior arrangement. Whether it is a case of cow vigilantes running amok or previous enmity or something else can only be established by thorough investigation. But the incident only goes to show how easily a lynching is orchestrated and the impunity with which perpetrators operate. Across the country, over 20 lives have been lost in last three months due to mob attacks on suspicion of cattle or child lifting, beef eating, organ harvesting and so on. A concerned Supreme Court had to ask State governments in September last year to curb lynching ‘with iron hands’. But with little action forthcoming, the apex court last month called upon Parliament to enact a tough anti-lynching legislation. While the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 has a provision to try several persons together for being involved in the same offence, prosecution will remain difficult until and unless mob killing is criminalized. Activists point out that Indian Penal Code (IPC) does not take cognizance of a group of people coming together with the intention to kill. But even if Parliament puts in place a specific law against lynching — its effectiveness will depend on firm and timely police action to nail perpetrators, protection of witnesses and speedy trial, and curbing incitement by social media.