According to the draft Prevention of Mob Violence and Mob Lynching Bill, 2021, it is aimed to provide “effective protection” of constitutional rights and prevention of mob violence.
The Jharkhand government has proposed a new anti-lynching law that is likely to be introduced in the winter session of the state legislature.
The draft law includes provisions like registering FIR for disseminating “explosive and irresponsible” content, provide free medical care to victims and punishment to create a “hostile environment” for victims or witnesses. The maximum punishment of life imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25 lakh for those who found guilty of lynching or its abetment.
If the law is passed, Jharkhand will become the third Indian state – after West Bengal and Rajasthan – to have anti-lynching law. Since the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha-Congress-Rashtriya Janata Dal coalition has 49 of the 81 seats in the state assembly, the law is likely to be passed after it being introduced.
“ _In our manifesto for the 2019 assembly polls, we had promised to bring about strict laws to prevent mob lynching in the state. Through this bill, we intend to fulfil our promise,”_ Jharkhand Mukti Morcha general secretary Supriyo Bhattacharya.
As Mob lynching became a serious issue of discussion in Jharkhand after the 2019 killing of a young Muslim man, Tabrez Ansari. He was reportedly beaten by a mob which forced him to say “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hanuman”