Mob Justice

Every criminal is entitled to due process of the law and this fact forms the cornerstone of any civilised judicial system. I n India there is a spate of lynching in recent times. How do we interpret this new form of justice system in present context? Have the people lost their faith in the police completely to indulge in wanton acts of vigilante justice? Or is it that under particular regime tenure, people become more confident and daring! Daredevil acts are done by the coward on behalf of the local community. Mob psychology shows that individuals tend to behave in a different manner as part of a group in contrast to acting independently. Individuals in a group defer their goals and take upon the identity of the group. Therefore, members of a group are likely to commit acts they would never commit alone. An incident of mob justice, in addition to being a shocking indicator of the psychological mindset of a society also suggests a failed justice delivery mechanism. If instant justice is meted out to an offender then is the punishment just in degree for a crime? Humans use threats and violence to dominate, and also resort to cheating, deceit or negotiation to obtain status and valued resources. Moreover impulsive violent behaviours are frequently labelled emotional violence and are linked with emotions such as anger and fear. The common man, the politician, the police, the judiciary and the media if work together the barbaric tradition of mob justice in modern times can be nipped in the bud.