Mob assaults and lynchings have remained a serious issue in India, driven largely by communal bias and allegations involving cattle, sexual assault and theft. Between 2014 and 2023, India recorded 189 specific lynching cases. Mobs often bypass the police and courts to deliver instant punishment to suspects. More worrying is the emergence of organised groups such as the Bajrang Dal and various cow protection groups. Over the years, some of these groups have evolved from loose crowds into organised networks with political influence.
This influence has, in some cases, helped shield them from law enforcement and legal action. The legal framework has also changed, with measures such as Section 103(2) of the BNS, 2023, state anti-lynching laws and the appointment of nodal officers. Yet, on the ground, the situation remains largely unchanged. While incidents such as the one in Nuvem may stem from frustration over delayed justice, in other cases mobs have evolved into organised vigilante groups operating under a degree of protection. Both trends are dangerous for democracy.
Alwyn Fernandes, Benaulim
