Mob violence may entail life imprisonment
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 07 2019:
In case any one is killed in mob violence, the accused may be imprisoned for life apart from attracting a fine of up to Rs five lakh under the Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Ordinance, 2018.Although there have been many instances of mob violence in the State, it was the mob violence which took place at Tharoijam, Imphal West in September last year where one Farooq Khan of Lilong Haoreibi was killed on the charge of lifting vehicle which prompted the State Government to take up stringent measures against such mob violence.
Subsequently, a notification issued by the Law and Legislative Affairs Department on November 19 last year brought the Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Ordinance, 2018 into force.
As there is a need to bring out a Bill in place of an ordinance before it is converted into an Act after following due procedure, the Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Bill, 2018 was passed in the State Assembly last month.
However, it is not known yet whether the Bill has been given assent by the Governor or not.
For implementation of the Manipur Protection from Mob Violence Ordinance/Act effectively, a senor police officer not below the rank of SP would be appointed as nodal officer for each district and the nodal officers would be assisted by police officers of the rank of DSP.
Apart from controlling incidents of mob violence, the nodal officers and their teams would also check churning out false and inflammatory propaganda in their respective districts, informed a source.
If any one is injured in mobile violence, the accused may be imprisoned for seven years and they may be fined up to Rs one lakh.
If the victim suffers critical injuries, the perpetrators of mob violence may be imprisoned for 10 years and they may be fined up to Rs three lakh.
In case, the victim is killed in mob violence, the perpetrators would be imprisoned for life and a fine of up to Rs five lakh may be imposed on them, said the source.
Apart from people who were directly involved in committing mob violence, those who conspire or abet mob violence as well as those people who pose obstructions to police action subsequent upon any incident of mob violence are also punishable under the ordinance/Bill, added the source.