Chhattisgarh conversion row and violence on Pune family: Rule of the mob
The Supreme Court has, on several occasions, underlined the dangers of mob vigilantism. But whether in cow protection cases or in matters related to religious conversion, or now in the increasingly contentious issue of illegal migration, law enforcement agencies show a disturbing tendency to let self-proclaimed community leaders take over. The Pune incident reportedly occurred after a 'tip-off' about Bangladeshis in the city. The role of the Bajrang Dal in this episode — as well as in the conversion-related arrests in Chhattisgarh — points to the same worrying tendency of the state law enforcement apparatus ceding vital space to vigilantes.
On more than one occasion, including in December last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has underlined the contributions of the Catholic community in social welfare. Instances such as the episode in Chhattisgarh pose question marks on that outreach. It's also a cruel irony that at a time when members of all political parties are applauding the valour of the armed forces in Operation Sindoor, a war veteran's relatives were targeted with impunity. The police in Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra have much to answer for.
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