‘Constitute STF in every district to check lynching, mob violence’
LUCKNOW:In the wake of spurt in mob violence and lynching incidents, UP Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh on Friday ordered all district police chiefs to constitute a special task force to gather intelligence about people involved in such activities directly or indirectly and take necessary action against them. He ordered police officials to ensure no such incidents take place in future and ensure speedy and effective investigations in cases reported in the past.
In a circular, the DGP has nominated police chiefs of all 75 districts as nodal officers and asked them to form a special task force under supervision of deputy superintendent of police to gather intelligence about people and organisations giving hate speeches, spreading messages that disturb law and order and are directly or indirectly involved in mob violence and lynching incidents.
The DGP said the nodal officer will identify such towns, villages and localities where such incidents have taken place in past five years. He said all such events are to be archived in a uniform format at all police stations of the districts and police station in-charges of these areas will be instructed to maintain regular patrolling and extra vigil in such areas.
Singh said the nodal officers are expected to devise strategies to effectively curb such incidents and rope in district administration officials if required. He said it will be the responsibility of the nodal officers to ensure that
legal actions are taken immediately in such cases where a particular community, caste or person is targeted. He said people who are suspected to be inciting mobs for violence and killings by spreading rumours would be booked under appropriate IPC and CrPC sections.
The DGP said it will be the responsibility of the nodal officers to provide the permissible financial compensation to the family members of the victim of mob violence or lynching. He said nodal officers would personally monitor investigations related to such incidents and ensure arrest of people involved in it.
He said all the facts and findings related to such cases would be concluded within the stipulated timeframe and the charge sheet filed in courts would also be ensured by the nodal officers.
He said the nodal officers should ensure that the prosecution wing plays an adequate role in hearing of such events.
He said those police officers who fail to implement the instructions and are unable to prevent such incidents and also not helpful in smooth investigation of such cases would be assumed as ‘intentionally negligent’ and stern action would be taken against them.
The circular was issued following the Supreme Court’s directive to check the spread of incidents of mob violence and lynching. The apex court also issued specific directions regarding the investigation of such cases that are to be implemented with immediate effect. In continuance, the union ministry of home affairs has also given detailed instructions on the matter.