A 30-year-old man was allegedly beaten to death at Nuvem by a mob following suspicion that he was involved in the theft of a two-wheeler. According to reports, the man was assaulted with kicks, fists and repeated blows before he was taken to the South Goa District Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead. The Maina Curtorim Police have reportedly arrested three persons in connection with the incident. The reported incident is particularly alarming because mob violence of this nature is extremely dangerous for a state like Goa, where people have traditionally taken pride in living in a peaceful and orderly society. It should serve as a serious warning that a dangerous culture of “street justice” must not be allowed to take root.
Citizens can help catch a suspected offender, but citizens cannot become the judge, jury and executioner. Members of the public have every right to stop a thief, prevent escape and immediately hand the suspect over to the police. The accused must be dealt with through the criminal justice system. It is the job of the police to investigate, the prosecution to present the case and the courts to determine guilt and punishment. If this is indeed Goa’s first reported case of mob lynching, then every effort must be made to ensure it does not become the beginning of a disturbing trend. The police are there to enforce the law. The courts are there to administer justice. Citizens have a role to play in assisting both.
Adelmo Fernandes, Vasco
