Amid tensions, activists propose new law against lynching

NEW DELHI: Life imprisonment for convicts, compensation and rehabilitation package for victims, time frame for judicial process, a protection programme for witnesses, fixing of responsibility on errant police officers and punishment for rumour-mongering are some of the measures proposed by the civil society to curb lynching.

As "Not in My Name" protests spread, social activists, cutting across ideological leanings, have come up with a draft legislation against mob lynching. Manav Suraksha Kanoon (MaSuKa) has been drafted by National Campaign Against Mob Lynching – a common platform where Dalit activist Jignesh Mevani, writer and blogger Tehseen Poonawalla, actor Swara Bhaskar, Kanhaiya Kumar and Shehla Rashid have come together to protest against vigilantism.

The activists, who would unveil the draft on Friday, would write to PM Narendra Modi asking him to introduce the legislation in the forthcoming monsoon session of Parliament.

"Nobody has disputed the need for a central law," said Poonawalla, adding: "This is not anti-government. This is not anti-BJP. This is a legislation which addresses our major concerns on mob lynching." MaSuKa has been framed with the help of SC advocate Sanjay Hegde and defines in great details mob lynching, rumour mongering and emphasises on booking who incite mobs.

The draft legislation proposes compensation of Rs 10 lakh or more and a rehabilitation package for survivors of mob lynching and their families.