Over the last 15 days, as many as 12 incidents of mob lynching have been reported from Bihar, reflecting the grim situation of law and order in the state. Most of these incidents occurred over rumours that spread easily on WhatsApp and social media.
In view of the spike in recent cases of mob lynching, Patna Police is conducting an awareness drive so that people do not pay heed to rumours and take matters in their hands.
"Around 10-12 incidents of mob lynching have come to light in the last 15 days. Some of these incidents have taken place in Patna. The culprits have been identified and arrested," ADG Jitendra Kumar told ANI.
representational image
"We have observed that such incidents take place on the basis of rumours. So, Patna Police is conducting a drive which is being conducted in other parts of the state too.
People are being made aware that they should not pay heed to the rumours and if they see someone suspicious, they should inform the nearest police station about it," he added.
On August 4, 32 people, including six women, were arrested for beating a man to death. The man was beaten and killed on suspicions of being a child lifter.
Two Sikhs on Saturday were assaulted by a mob on suspicion of being child-lifters in Patna, before being rescued by the police. Same-day in Danapur, near Patna, two youths were thrashed by a mob on Saturday on suspicion of being child abductors.
Three beggars including two woman were thrashed on Sunday by a mob near Neema railway halt in Patna on suspicion of being child lifters. Timely arrival police saved them from being lynched by a mob of 200 villagers armed with traditional bamboo sticks.
An auto-rickshaw driver in Patna was beaten by a mob on Sunday after some women claimed he is a suspected child lifter.
AFP/Representational Image
In some cases, mob even attacked police teams that were trying to rescue the victims.
The alarming rise in number of such cases is a matter of embarrassment for Bihar administration as it has clearly failed to curb such incidents. The government has failed to provide punish people involved in street justice and this has led to people taking matters in their hands more freely.