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Beaten, bloodied and broadcast

Updated on: 27 July,2010 08:33 AM IST  | 
BV Shiva Shankar |

Over 10 gory incidents of mob justice have been aired by TRP-hungry TV channels in July and the cops have not made one arrest so far

Beaten, bloodied and broadcast

Over 10 gory incidents of mob justice have been aired by TRP-hungry TV channels in July and the cops have not made one arrest so far

MOBS are fast becoming a law unto themselves and the city police are doing nothing to curb the menace.
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There have been over 10 instances of crowds meting out justice in public that have been telecast by TRP-hungry TV news channels and not one of these self-appointed dispensers of law have been brought to book so far.






"If anybody comes forward to complain, we can take action and book the culprits," said Alok Kumar, joint commissioner of police (crime). "We have not received any such complaint so far, which is why there have been no arrests."

Surekha (38), was the latest victim at the receiving end of such a mob led by none other than her husband Jayashankar (42).

Even as the mob rained blows on Surekha and her lover, local news channels that had been tipped off before the attack, began filming the entire episode.

Captured on camera

The footage was telecast with dramatic visual effects. The frames that captured the blows were flashed repeatedly at a very fast pace to racy background music.

The strap line and top band screamed Nadathegettavalige Dharmadetu (Thrashing for an unfaithful woman).

Shockingly, police personnel who were on the spot in Kempe Gowda Nagar off Magadi Road, where the incident unfolded, remained mute spectators even as the mob bloodied Surekha's face and stripped her lover.

"The media was there. We did not want to intervene as we were scared of the consequences," said Krishnappa, Head Constable, Byadarahalli police station.
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"They could have taken us to task for coming in the way of the media on duty."

Not just one

A similar incident happened last week, when an alleged mobile thief was attacked by a mob in Hasan.

Yet another victim of mob justice, who had allegedly indulged in eve teasing, in Mysore, continues to be critical in hospital.

The mob beat up Surekha and her lover while the media filmed it and the footage was telecast on news channels


"Such instances of mob justice mark us as an uncivilised society. The media must act with social and moral responsibility when it deals with such issues," said S R Nayak, chairman of State Human Rights Commission.
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"We can only request the media to behave more responsibly. We could ask the police why they did not intervene. Their inaction amounts to dereliction of duty and violation of human rights."

Professor Raviverma Kumar, a constitution expert and an eminent lawyer, said, he did not buy the argument that the police could not act in such cases without a complaint.

"The police need not wait for a complaint in such cases as they are cognisable offences and they are being committed in public. It is a crime to take the law into one's hands.
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If it is not dealt with firmly, the society will descend into jungle raj."

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