Rajnath condemns mob lynching

Condemning the mob lynching incidents in the country, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that the Centre was concerned and looking into the issue.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Singh said, "We are concerned about the issue and looking into the matter. It is condemnable."

He however added, "The lynching incidents did not start recently; they have been happening for many years. I have said this earlier too. The biggest mob lynching was what happened in 1984."

Singh's statement comes a day after the Centre set up a high-level committee headed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba to stop the menace. The committee will submit its recommendations to the government within four weeks.

Earlier, in a statement, the Centre had said that it is committed to uphold the rule of law and adopt effective measures.

The incidents of mob lynching have been on a rise in the country. As per the Ministry of Home Affairs data, 45 people were killed in 40 different cases across nine states between 2014 and 3 March, 2018.

In a recent incident of lynching, a Muslim man Akbar Khan was beaten to death by a mob in Rajasthan's Alwar district on July 20 on suspicion of cow smuggling.

--ANI)