Lok Sabha Question No. 1129 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Incident of Mob Vigilantism
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Gaurav Gogoi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1129

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022/ MAGHA 19, 1943 (SAKA) INCIDENT OF MOB VIGILANTISM

1129. SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  increasing  incidence  of  mob vigilantism in the country, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether any action has been taken to curb vigilantism and moral policing in the name of 'love jihad' and 'cow vigilantism' during the last three years;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  can  give  the  details  of  cases  registered  against vigilant assaults on minorities and Dalits above said period;
- (d)  whether  the Government can offer any justification for not initiating action against those who assault Muslim and Dalit youth in the name of 'love jihad' and 'cow vigilantism' and publicize videos of such assault on social media in violation of their privacy, if so, the details thereof; and
- (e)  whether the Government recognizes that 'love jihad' is not an actual crime and that adult citizens are free and have the right to convert to the religion of their choice as guaranteed by the Constitution?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a)  to  (e):  'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India and State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting the criminals through their law enforcement agencies. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) publishes crime data received from all the States/Union Territories under various crime heads defined under the Indian Penal Code and

## LS.US.Q.NO.1129 FOR 08.02.2022

Special & Local Laws. No separate crime data on vigilante groups or mobs or crowds is maintained by NCRB.

Government is committed to ensure every citizen freedom to profess, practice and propagate religion subject to public order, morality and health, as enshrined in article 25 of the Constitution.

Ministry of Home Affairs has issued advisories to 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 punished promptly as per law. An advisory dated 04.07.2018 was issued to the States and UTs to keep watch on circulation of fake news and rumours  having  potential  of  inciting  violence,  take  all  required  measures  to counter  them  effectively  and  to  deal  firmly  with  persons  taking  law  into  their own hands.

Further,  advisories  dated  23.07.2018  and  25.09.2018  were  issued  to  the  State Governments/UT Administrations for taking measures to curb incidents of mob vigilantism  &  violence.  The  Government  through  audio-visual  media  has  also generated public awareness in this regard. The Government has also sensitized the service providers to take steps to check the propagation of false news and rumours having potential to incite mob violence.

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