Lok Sabha Question No. 1120 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Lynching Incidents
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sajda Ahmed, MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVNTHI), KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR, HARISH CHANDRA MEENA, K. C. VENUGOPAL, SAUGATA ROY, MAUSAM NOOR, C. N. JAYADEVAN, SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1120

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH JULY, 2018/ SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

## LYNCHING INCIDENTS

1120.

SHRIMATI SAJDA AHMED:

SHRI MUTHAMSETTI SRINIVASA RAO (AVANTHI):

SHRI KAUSHALENDRA KUMAR:

SHRI HARISH MEENA:

SHRI K.C. VENUGOPAL:

PROF. SAUGATA ROY:

SHRIMATI MAUSAM NOOR:

SHRI C.N. JAYADEVAN:

SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether  incidents of lynching, killing of people based  on  fake news/social  media  rumours,  suspicion  of  child  lifting  etc.  and  honour killings are on the rise in the country;

(b)  if  so,  the  number  of  such  cases  reported,  persons  died/injured,  guilty arrested and the action taken against them separately during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c) whether the Government has issued advisories/directions to the States to prevent/check such incidents and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to make amendments in the existing laws to define lynching and mob violence and revisit the penal provisions to make it more stringent and if so, the details thereof;

(e)  whether  the  Government  has  any  proposal  to  constitute  a  high  level panel headed by a sitting judge to prepare a report on the issue and if so, the details thereof; and

(f) the other steps being taken by the Government to prevent and curb such incidents including formulation of a policy on lynching and fixing accountability for the said incidents including social media  service providers?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (b): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) does not maintain specific data in this regard.

(c) to (f): 'Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution. The responsibility to maintain law and order and protect life and property rests with the respective State Governments, who are competent to deal with such offences. Ministry of Home Affairs have, however, issued advisories to the States and UTs, from time to time, to maintain law and order and ensure that any person who takes law into his/her  own  hand  is  proceeded  against  as  per  law.  An  advisory  has  also been issued to the States and UTs on 04.07.2018, which emphasizes  that the State Governments and UT administrations should adopt measures to ensure  that  violence,  fuelled  by  unverified  allegations  circulating  in  the social  media,  is  not  allowed  to  be  committed.  The  advisory  dated 09.08.2016  advised  the  States/  UTs  to  take  action  to  prevent  untoward incidents  in  the  country  in  the  name  of  protection  of  cow.  The  advisory dated  04.09.2009  advised  the  States/UTs  to  take  steps  to  curb  the Violation  of  Women's  Rights  by  the  so  called  'honour  killings'.  State Governments and UT Administration have been advised to keep watch for early detection of such trends of circulation of rumours having potential for violence, and take all required measures to counter them effectively and to deal firmly with persons taking law into their own hands. At present there is no proposal under consideration to constitute a high level panel headed by a sitting judge to prepare a report on the issue.

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