‘Publicise anti-lynching laws’

New Delhi, Sept. 26: To check incidents of lynching, the Centre on Wednesday asked all states to make the general public aware that mob violence of any kind will invite serious consequence under the law.

Quoting Monday’s directive of the Supreme Court, the home ministry told the states that preventive measures must be taken to check incidents of lynching which have taken place in different parts of the country in recent past.

The Supreme Court has ordered that the central and state governments should broadcast on radio and television and other media platforms, including the official websites of the home department and police of the states, that lynching of any kind shall invite serious consequence under the law.

“We have asked the state governments to comply with the order of the Supreme Court,” a home ministry official said.

In an earlier advisory, the home ministry had asked the states to appoint a superintendent of police-level officer in each district, set up a special task force for gathering intelligence and closely monitor social media contents so that no one is attacked on suspicion of being child-lifter or cattlesmuggler.

The home ministry also said that a strong action should be taken wherever it is found that a police officer has failed to comply with the directions to prevent, investigate and facilitate expeditious trial of any such crime of mob violence and lynching.

—PTI