Alwar lynching: Role of Rajasthan police under scanner after victim’s photo goes viral

A photograph of Alwar mob lynching victim Rakbar Khan has put the role of Rajasthan police under scanner as he looked fine sitting upright inside the police car.

Khan was died allegedly after being beaten up by a mob over the suspicion of cow smuggling. However, the role of police came under the scrutiny after eyewitnesses claimed that they saw cops thrashing the victim.

Also, it took three hours to police to rush him to a hospital which was not more than 20 minutes away from the station. The police officers taking him to the nearby hospital even took a tea break, showing complete apathy towards the victim.

The photo of the deceased was taken by one Naval Kishore, who informed the police about the attack and accompanied them till the tea break.

"See I took this picture in the police vehicle. See, he looks fine," NDTV quoted Kishore as saying.

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While the picture proved that Khan was not critically injured after being lynched by the mob, doctors in the hospital said that he died of internal bleeding. Khan’s brother even claimed that his neck was also broken.

"We have no information yet about the victim being thrashed in custody, but yes, prima facie we have found that there was indeed an error in judgment in deciding what was important at that point," news agency ANI quoted NRK Reddy, Special Director General of Police, as saying.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan police has suspended an assistant sub-inspector and sent three constables to police lines for their lacklustre approach towards the victim.

The action came after a video purportedly showing ASI Mohan Singh admitting to his “mistake” went viral on social media.

“Mere se galti hogai...kaise bhi maan lo..saja de do ya chhodh do...seedhi si baat hai(I made a mistake...punish me or pardon me...it is simple and straight),” the ASI can be heard saying in the video.

After widespread criticism and Opposition bashing in Parliament, the Centre also woke up and constituted a four-member committee, headed by Union Home Secretary, to look into new laws to curb the growing incidents of mob lynching in the country.

A ministerial panel, headed by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, has also been set up, that will submit its report to the prime minister based on the recommendations of the four-member committee.

Also Read | After SC nudge, Modi government sets up panel to suggest laws against mob lynching