UPSC Articles
Lynchings point to breakdown of the rule of law
Part of: GS Mains II – Governance issues; Social issue; Rule of law
In news:
- In previous DNA article, we read that three people, alleged cattle thieves suspected to be Bangladeshi nationals, were lynched in Assam.
- According to the National Crime Records Bureau’s 2017 data which was released in October 2019, Assam has one of the highest crime rates in the country.
- Anecdotal trends suggest a spike in mob lynchings in recent years, often incited by malicious dissemination of false accusations of cow slaughter, kidnapping of children and theft, through social media.
Key points for Mains:
- Suppressing of data: The NCRB did collect data on lynchings in 2017 but did not publish.
- The victims are invariably from vulnerable groups.
- Lynchings must have no place in a democratic society.
- Lynchings are a uniquely unsettling derailment of governance.
- Act of mob violence is a sign of failure of law enforcement.
