SC calls for new law to fight ‘ mobocracy’

observation is also relevant — and perhaps in light of — a spate of mob lynchings targeting people believed to be child snatchers, usually on the basis of false information passed on through messaging platforms such as Whatsapp.

The attacks in recent weeks prompted the government to write to Facebook Inc, the owner of Whatsapp. It also prompted the company to take out full-page advertisements on fake messages and news and to introduce a button to show a message had been forwarded.

Over the weekend, a 32-year old Google employee was attacked and killed in Karnataka’s Bidar on the belief that he was a child snatcher.

“Earnest action and concrete steps have to be taken to protect the citizens from the recurrent pattern of violence which cannot be allowed to become the new normal. The State cannot turn a deaf ear to the growing rumblings of its people,” the bench said. People sending ‘irresponsible’ or incendiary messages must be booked by police Every police officer must break up a mob that could turn violent

Fast-track courts should be set up to try cases of mob lynching and trial preferably completed in 6 months

Trial courts must ordinarily award maximum sentence to convicts in order to set an example

Central and state government must launch radio and TV broadcasts to raise awareness of punishment

State governments should prepare a lynching/mob violence victim compensation scheme

Social media platforms must be monitored to curb spreading of “explosive” messages

State governments shall designate a senior police officer in each district to combat mob violence

Police or administration officers will face action for negligence in case they fail to stop a particular incident Administrations should identify districts, sub-divisions and villages where lynching and mob violence have occurred recently

Families of the victims should be protected from further harassment