HYDERABAD: While the Apex Court on Tuesday took the serious view of the menace of mob violence and lynching, directing the Parliament to enact Law to prevent such incidents, the judgment has gained widespread acceptance among people, including police.
It was a mob of over 2,500 persons that attacked a group of five friends in Bidar a few days ago, with one of them succumbing to injuries. So far more than ten persons in the State have been victims of angry mobs. From lynching beggars and cross-dressers on streets believing rumours spread on Whatsapp, to thrashing a child rape accused inside a city police station in presence of local MLA, the city has seen it all.
Welcoming the latest judgment, Jitender, additional DG (Law and Order) said, “There need to be powers given to law enforcing agencies and governments to keep a check on social media which has grown in last five years. Issues relating to national security and public order would be a cause for concern, and these companies should be brought under the law.”
“Mob lynching is an act of punishing others which is not acceptable under the purview of law. The fundamentals of Indian constitution - right to life and right to privacy - is encroached upon when a mob is attacking an individual or a group,” observed MV Krishna Mohan, a High Court advocate.
Cybercrime law enforcers opine that the striking off of Section 66 A of the Information Technology Act, 2000, had led to people having no fear of spreading ‘false or annoyance’ messages. “When the only law that held those spreading fake messages guilty being struck off (referring to 66A of IT act), there should be something else that fills the void. 66A was the only law that directly dealt with the spread of fake messages. But now people are not afraid of law in such cases,” observed a senior official of the cyber crime department on condition of anonymity.
In the recent incidents of lynching, the social media has been the medium of propagating false messages. And, law enforcing agencies see for a revamp on it.
"I welcome the decision given by the SC and there is a logic for that. As a police officer using all the legislation, the existing IT Act has been enacted in 2000 which predates the issue much before social media came into the picture. We did not realise that social media will become a law enforcement issue," observed Rema Rajeshwari, SP, Gadwal police.
Law should be made by understanding the mob psychology and social fabric of the country and not just create a legislation that goes tough on people.
Meanwhile, human rights call for having fast-track courts to deal with the cases of mob lynching. "The existing laws are not properly enforced leaving the victims to go scot free. And, adding to it there is a union minister like Jayant Sinha who garlands persons alleged to be involved in mob violence. Fast-track courts and quick filing of charge sheet can be a good answer," said Professor PL Vishweshwar Rao.
More from Telangana
28 May - Mistaken for a child-lifter, a 52-year-old cross-dresser lynched to death at Chandrayangutta
24 May - A mentally unstable man thrashed at Pahadishareef as mob mistook him to be part of the interstate dacoit gang
23 May- Two tribal youth from Nizamabad trashed on the suspect of being child traffickers
23 May- Nine farmers thrashed by villagers
after they suspected them to be from Parthi gang, a robbery gang
22 May - A woman in Yadadri lynched after locals suspected her behaviour
14 May - A mob led by Malakpet MLA Ahmed Balala thrashed a child rape accused inside Chaderghat police station
8 April - A 43-year-old labourer beaten to death for allegedly raping a minor in Nizamabad