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hate crimes

• hatemongering More than 100
hate crimes reported in six months
the country’s social fabric.
In 11-point measures that
include preventive, remedial
and punitive steps against
hate crimes of mob lynch-
ing and mob violence, the
Supreme Court has directed
the State Governments to
designate district Superinten-
dent of Police in each district
No official records fairness, uprightness and to ensure precautionary,
seriousness that results in the preventive and protective
measures against hate crimes,
accused being let off on bail
of hate crimes yet and the victims harassed and intensive checks on social
media contents, expeditious
prosecuted on make-believe
frame up charges. Many of trial of the accused by desig-
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest hate crimes in hate crimes are deeply dis- nated fast track courts within
turbing. Dalits are attacked for a time frame of six months in
2016 and 2017, followed by Gujarat, Rajasthan and merely riding horses, Muslims each districts, a financial com-
Tamil Nadu, writes MY Siddiqui lynched on rumours of cattle pensation package for victims
slaughter and Dalit women of such crimes and account-
ndia witnessed a dis- Hate crimes are criminal acts raped and burnt to death. ability of the governments
turbing 100 incidents of against people based on their The Union Ministry of through their instruments of
hate crimes with the rise real or perceived connection Home Affairs has once again governance, among others.
of Sangh Pariwar during with particular caste, religion sent Advisories to the States Stating that “horrendous acts
I the first half of the cur- or ethnicity. Such crimes are and Union Territories to of mobocracy” cannot be al-
rent year ending June 2018. different from other crimes as curb mob lynching and mob lowed to become a new norm,
With this, incidents of hate there is underlying discrimi- violence. It may be noted that the SCI said if it is found that
crimes have gone up to 603 natory motive of majoritarian such Advisories are a mere a police officer or an officer
since Akhlaq was lynched in bullying behind such crimes. formality exhibiting lack of of the district administration
Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in Sep- Hate crimes are motivated by seriousness in the Central has failed to fulfill his duty, it
tember 2015, for allegedly kill- intolerance and majoritarian Government. will be considered an act of
ing a cow and storing its meat bullying of Dalits, Adivasis No wonder, coming on deliberate negligence.
in his fridge. This is based and minorities. However, the heels of ever rising hate Now that there is a glim-
on data collected by various Indian law, with some excep- crimes in the country, the mer of hopes that the NDA
social research organisations tions, does not recognise hate Supreme Court of India (SCI) Union Government will
in the country and the global crimes as separate offences, has come heavily on the enact a deterrent law, people
human rights watchdog, the which is why the extent of Central Government and of India are exuding confi-
Amnesty International. The hate crimes in the country is State Governments directing dence that social fabric of the
Union Government’s National unknown. it to enact a separate law to country will not erode further
Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) According to the reports, deal effectively with spiral- under the watch of the apex
in the Ministry of Home Uttar Pradesh recorded the ing mob lynching and other court which has always stood
Affairs does not maintain highest hate crimes in 2016 targeted mob violence against by the people in upholding
records of hate crimes in the and 2017, followed by Gujarat, the marginalized before their fundamental right to life
country. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. India slides into mobocracy. and personal liberty amidst
Cow-related violence Bihar also recorded a high The apex court, in a recent social harmony, diversity and
and ‘honour’ killings are the number of hate crimes. With orders by a bench headed co-existence. This is the state
most common hate crimes. the NDA Union Government by the Chief Justice of India, of the nation on the occasion
Hate crimes are commit- and State Governments Justice Deepak Misra, has of 72nd Independence Day on
ted against Dalits, Adivasis, concerned having been seem- condemned mob lynching August 15, 2018 on completion
racial or religious minorities, ingly complicit in hate crimes, incidents across the coun- of 71 years of India’s Inde-
transgender and other mar- its prosecution has been try and directed the Union pendence from the British
ginalized people. It is pointed vitiated by the police playing Government to enact a law rule!
out that most of hate crimes partisan and not investigating to deal with such crimes that
are not reported in the media. such crimes with attendant threaten the rule of law and letters@tehelka.com

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 29 www.Tehelka.com