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In Bengal, a wave of mob lynchings has been triggered by rumors of "bachha chor" (child kidnappers) and "mobile chor" (mobile thieves) circulating through social media. These rumors are leading to falsely accusing individuals of heinous crimes, leading to violent vigilante justice.
According to the reports, four people have been beaten to death and at least 10 people have been attacked brutally. In most of the cases, the families of victims alleged that these were just rumors and false accusations.
As per revelations, over 50 people have been arrested in connection with the case. Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee government has announced the compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the families of those lynched.
It is important to note that the incidents of mob lynching has come mainly from Bengal in June. These include North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bardhaman and West Medinipur. According to police sources, the series of such incidents probably started when the body of an 11-year-old boy, missing for 5 days, was found in a ruined toilet near his house in North 24 Parganas on June 19. The boy's uncle Anjib Nabi was arrested in connection with the incident.
A senior police officer said that we suspect that there is a connection between the incident and the rumors. To avoid suspicion, the accused may have fabricated a story about the kidnappers. We are investigating it. So far, about 50 people have been arrested in different mob lynching incidents. At the same time, the Mamata Banerjee government has announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh for the families of those killed.
Meanwhile, Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay attributed these incidents to the Raj Bhavan's unwillingness to endorse the West Bengal (Prevention of Lynching) Bill, 2019 during a speech in the state assembly earlier this week.
The Bill, which was approved by the assembly in 2019 and is intended to prevent mob lynchings, is currently awaiting the governor's assent.
Recent incidents include the lynching of a man, who was killed by a mob after being mistakenly identified as a child kidnapper based on rumors spread via WhatsApp. Despite his desperate pleas, the mob beat him to death. This incident is one among many in Bengal and other parts of India where misinformation on social media has led to tragic outcomes.
The rise in smartphone and internet accessibility in rural areas has exacerbated the problem. Many villagers rely heavily on WhatsApp for news, making them particularly vulnerable to fake news and hoaxes. Efforts by authorities to combat this trend include awareness campaigns and social media initiatives to debunk false information, but the challenge remains significant.
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