The picture of disgust!

A very well known proverb- “A picture is worth thousand words”. The above picture is worth just the disgust! However, if you tend to turn your face off the picture you are making an attempt to neglect the present state of affairs in India. The Uttar Pradesh Police has done the best they could do with the police officers concerned. Transferred! Yes, just transferred the three policemen seen in a photo showing a mob dragging a Muslim man after having lynched him on rumors of cow slaughter in Hapur district, on the outskirts of the national capital New Delhi. In order to show the polite side of the force, the Uttar Pradesh Police while ordering a probe also apologized for what it termed as the “unintended yet desirable acts” of the policemen as seen in the picture escorting Hindu extremists dragging a Muslim man.
The reasons for the incidence are too bizarre. The incidence claimed life of one while other sustained injuries. The family of the deceased Qasim, a 45 years old trader has said that Qasim had gone out when he heard the possibility of cattle being on sale and next thing they heard was that he had been killed by a mob. The family of the injured has stated that he had gone out to fetch grass for the cattle and when he spied the mob attack on Qasim, he tried to run for safety but was beaten up nonetheless. Muslim population of the area has termed the incidence as conspiracy while the locals claim to have been tipped off for cow smuggling. The best version has come from the local administration that maintains “it may have been a case of road rage”. The administration on being asked for the presence of cops in such a manner had another bizarre explanation. “This picture seems to have been taken when the police had reached the spot to shift the injured to the police vehicle and because of the non-availability of an ambulance at that moment, the victim was unfortunately carried this way.” If it was a case of road rage, the cops should have been there to prevent it; however the picture shows them as if they are trying to let the incidence take place. Given that lynchings across North India by “cow protection vigilantes” have been happening, the communal angle so associated with these can’t be ignored. Cases of mob taking the law into their hands have been increasing in India. In yet another incidence a car borne couple was lynched on suspicion that were out to kidnap children as the women offered some sweets to kids while seeking directions. Later it turned out that the couple was out on a pilgrimage. Similar incidence was reported from Assam where two men were lynched on the same suspicion.
The Indian authorities have failed to rein in mobs who now believe that they have all the power and the law to deliver “justice” there and then only. Irrespective of whether the lynchings are based upon rumors of child kidnappings or well orchestrated acts by cow protection vigilantes, the authorities can’t be seen as harboring the criminals. Certainly, the cops instead of protecting the person being lynched are being seen as being catalyst in letting the act being carried out. A killing of a human being by a murderous crowd to avert an imagined crime shows the lack of law and order in India. It also goes to show how, how certain fringe elements associated with one party have a free hand to indulge in violence that too specially against minorities. The authorities must make it clear, that mob violence can’t be tolerated anymore and will be strictly dealt with. The administration must also look into how it can prevent the spreading of fake news over social media. Response like internet shutdown is no solutions. Authorities should be able to reach out to communities to keep them apprised of trouble makers. The Indian government needs to take these minimum possible steps, so that the message that this picture carries is not allowed to become the image of India. The message from the picture is simple-but heart wrenching truth about present day India. Mob has the power to lynch, cops aid in such acts and charge sheet is filed against the victims; and the people who matter are busy indulging in making videos of their fitness challenge.