Responding to Lynchings

What is the issue?

There has been a recent series of mob lynching, fuelled by rumours circulated through social media.

What are the recent happenings?

• Across the country, more than 20 people have been lynched due to fake news of child lifting.
• Moreover, dozens of other attacks on strangers, including on 24 individuals in Odisha alone.
• In Tripura, a man sent by the government to stop lynchings was himself lynched by villagers.
• Mobs are increasingly driven by viral rumours of child-kidnappers.
• Free messaging service, the Whats App, provided the platform for spreading disinformation.

What does it imply?

• Across the country, lynching and mob vigilantism appear to have got acceptance.
• This indicates a deep sense of insecurity among so many ordinary Indians.
• The state’s security apparatus failed to use the same social media platform to counter the rumours.
• More than being a law and order issue, the incidents also imply a deeper societal crisis, especially in cases of cow slaughter that emerges from religious intolerance.

• A sense of "other" is seemed to have gripped the Indian society.
• There is failure on part of the political establishment to censure such incidents also sends a signal of tolerance towards lynching.
• It is more pronounced in the case of minorities, tribals and Dalits who are at the receiving end.

What is the government response?

• Centre's directive - The Centre has advised states and UTs to take steps in this regard by keeping a watch for early detection of such rumours.
• Home Affairs Ministry has directed states and UTs to initiate measures to counter them.
• MEITY - Ministry of Electronics and IT is holding WhatsApp responsible for such incidents.
• The platform has been advised to take remedial measures to prevent fake message proliferation.
• It has asked WhatsApp to ensure that their platform is not used for malafide activities.

What are the concerns?

• The government response to go after WhatsApp is misplaced.
• In WhatsApp, messages are said to be encrypted, which makes it impossible for any to intercept.
• Given this, methods to limit the spread of sensational messages is unclear.
• Also, such checks would amount to legitimising surveillance and a loss of privacy.
• Besides, the messaging medium is not the issue with the recent incidents.
• The government response seems to be an abdication of responsibility.

What does the US experience show?

• In US, the first amendment rejects making any law prohibiting and abridging the freedom of speech.
• When they had to deal with lynchings in their past, they responded by strengthening the State.
•  They increased policing, bettered law enforcement and invested more in the justice system.

What is the way forward?

• Banning news, internet blackouts and letters to WhatsApp may not address the root cause.
• Factors such as demonisation of communities - Muslims, tribals, outsiders - should be addressed.
• Stringent condemnation, and timely prosecuting of the perpetrators are essential.
• Political messaging and administrative alerts are key to stopping the string of lynchings.
• District administrations and gram panchayats can be asked to reach out to locals to persuade them against falling for rumours.

Source: Business Standard, The Hindu