The Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar has sent out a strong message for all accused in cases of mob violence to be disqualified for any government job. The decision comes after the state reported 39 cases of mob violence, claiming 14 lives. As of now, 345 people have been named in such cases.

In an attempt to act against the rampant mob violence, the state government of Bihar has decided that all government employees found involved in any cases of lynching will lose their government jobs, The Indian Express reported on September 20. 

To identify those accused of mob violence, the Bihar Police have initiated an exercise to gather footage from the media and locals. 

According to data by police, 278 people have been arrested in connection with cases of mob violence reported from Patna, Jehanabad, Gaya, Sasaram and other districts of the state. 

Additional DGP, CID, Vinay Kumar said that police will scrutinise the video footage of the incidents and identify more accused. The motive, he said, is to ensure people don’t take law into their own hands. “In mob lynching cases, we often book unidentified people. We are now focusing more on identifying faces in the crowd with the help of video footage gathered through media and local people,” he said.

Over 2,000 unknown people have been booked by the police in many recent cases, he said. “Despite several warnings, people continued to take law in their hands because of unfounded rumours. Accused may now lose government jobs,” Kumar said.

Of the 39 incidents reported so far, most of the incidents were triggered by child-lifting rumours. In Gaya, four people were thrashed last month on suspicion of being child-lifters. In Patna, an old man and a mentally-challenged woman were beaten to death by a mob a month earlier on a similar suspicion.

Jitendra Kumar, Additional DGP (headquarters) has assured that the charge sheets will be filed in most cases on and justice will be delivered.

“Since almost 90 per cent mob violence cases in the past decade led to zero convictions, there is an urgency to gather more scientific evidence and name more accused. We need more convictions so that it works as a deterrent for lumpen elements,” Kumar said. 

Also Read: Bihar: Woman Kicked, Slapped & Paraded Naked By Angry Mob Over Suspicion Of Being A Murderer