Reference Article: Editorial | The Hindu – Mob rule: On migrants, rising hate crimes in India
UPSC Relevance:
GS Paper II – Polity and Governance (Rule of Law, Internal Security, Federal Responsibilities)
GS Paper I – Society (Migration, Social Cohesion, Diversity, Regional Identities)
Essay – Mob Violence, Citizenship, Constitutional Morality
In the closing weeks of 2025, a series of violent incidents across multiple States revealed a deeply troubling pattern of mob violence against migrants falsely labelled as “foreigners”. In all reported cases, the victims were Indian citizens, attacked on the basis of language, appearance, region or presumed nationality. Such suspicion-driven violence signals a dangerous erosion of constitutional values and demands firm state action.
Incidents Across States
Recent cases underline the nationwide spread of this phenomenon:
- Kerala (Palakkad): Ram Narayan Baghel, a migrant worker from Chhattisgarh, was lynched after being accused of theft and interrogated about whether he was “Bangladeshi”. The incident is particularly jarring in a State known for its dependence on migrant labour and claims of social progress.
- Odisha (Sambalpur): Juel Sheikh, a daily wage labourer from West Bengal, was beaten to death after being accused of being an illegal Bangladeshi when asked for identity documents at a tea stall. Another Bengali-speaking vendor was assaulted days later.
- Tamil Nadu (Tiruvallur): A migrant worker from Odisha was attacked on a train by juveniles wielding machetes; the assault was filmed and circulated online.
- Uttarakhand (Dehradun): Anjel Chakma, a student from Tripura, was stabbed after racial slurs were hurled at him; he was reportedly called “Chinese”, reflecting persistent prejudice against people from the Northeast.
Underlying Social and Political Drivers
These are not isolated crimes but part of a broader climate of intimidation:
- Migrants and minorities are increasingly treated as perpetual outsiders, especially those speaking Bengali or from the Northeast
- Mob behaviour is emboldened by political rhetoric around “illegal infiltration”, particularly targeting Bangladeshis
- The use of such rhetoric as an electoral strategy risks normalising vigilantism and collective punishment
Failure of Deterrence and the Role of the State
While police have made arrests in several cases, reactive law enforcement is insufficient:
- Mob violence thrives where political leadership fails to issue clear, unequivocal condemnation
- Both State governments and the Centre must assert that citizenship is a legal status, not a matter for mob adjudication
- Strict enforcement of criminal law, fast-track prosecutions and accountability for hate-driven violence are essential
Threat to Constitutional Morality
India’s Constitution guarantees equality before the law and freedom of movement across the country. Vigilante violence based on identity strikes at:
- The rule of law, by substituting mob suspicion for due process
- National unity, by fragmenting citizens into insiders and outsiders
- Social harmony, by legitimising prejudice and fear
Unless political actors restrain incendiary narratives and reaffirm constitutional values, such violence risks becoming routine, with devastating consequences for India’s plural society.
Sample UPSC Mains Question
Rising incidents of mob violence against migrants labelled as ‘foreigners’ point to deeper challenges in India’s social cohesion and rule of law. Analyse the causes and suggest measures to address this threat to constitutional morality.