Increased Lynching in Tamil Nadu

Why in news?

In recent times there is an increasing number of lynching incidents by mobs in Tamil Nadu.

What are the recent incidents by mobs?

• Mobs are amorphous units that confer anonymity on perpetrators, and emboldening them on the spur of the moment to collectively commit vile acts without a sense of individual guilt.
• Recently an old man, a women and a North Indian has been killed due to lynching by the mobs in Tamil Nadu.

What are the reasons for such incidents?

• The incidents of lynching in parts of Tamil Nadu are unrelated except for the mindless violence and brutality.
• Various reasons stated by the mobs who attack individuals including suspicion of strangers who might kidnap children and a general feeling of insecurity.
• These incidents are due to harsh xenophobic messages spread through social media warning north Indians as child kidnappers in Tamil Nadu.

What measures should be taken by the state government?

• The State police should issue strict warnings that forwarding such messages won’t be tolerated and action would be taken on those found to circulate these messages.
• The IT wing of the state government has to analyse such incidents to understand the underlying anxieties of the people.
• Steps must be taken to ensure that people feel secure about their safety and especially their children’s safety.
• Counter-information campaign needs to be publicly broadcast and confidence has to be fostered so that residents freely approach the authorities to verify the messages or seek protection.

Source: The Hindu