Ongoing Public Shaming

With effect from 25th March a 21-day nationwide lockdown was imposed, to fight the coronavirus outbreak in India, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  Subsequently, all the essential services were exempted from this lockdown and restrictions were put only on the movement of the people during these 21 days to ensure containment of coronavirus. In order to impose nationwide lockdown, cops of Jammu and Kashmir police in various ranks have been deployed on ground for enforcement of lockdown. Meanwhile, police have registered more than 300 FIRs against lockdown violators in Jammu and Kashmir for defying the orders issued by the government.

However, in the past few days there had been many cases of publicly shaming violators during the implementation of lockdown in Jammu and Kashmir. Numerous videos and pictures have surfaced showing police making the violators crawl and making them do sit-ups. During the ongoing public shaming, police are also putting stamps reading 'corona lockdown violator' on hands and foreheads of the people. This stamping is done with permanent ink that takes around 15 days to erase. In some cases, the policemen are also using ‘lathi’ as a means of deterrence. Under the Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines provisions to be invoked for the smooth implementation of the lockdown states that "any person violating these containment measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code." It appears that all these police personnel are not aware of the conditions set by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The section 188 of the Indian Penal Code does not authorize any police officer to publicly shame or inflict physical damage on any person found violating this lockdown. And as the news of the 21-day nationwide lockdown has been widely circulated, no one can raise the defense of ignorance during this period and can be very clearly booked under section 188.

So the alternate method adopted by the police reflects inhumane and insensitive dealing with violators during the prevailing restrictions. We all agree that maintenance of law and order is the duty of the police and these police personnel are at the risk of catching the virus themselves but overstepping statutes is also illegal. It also amounts to violation of human rights at the hands of police. Such a lockdown is being instituted in many countries across the globe but no such circumstances reflecting this kind of intention of the police has come in the limelight. In addition to it, the seriousness of the virus cannot justify the use of such methods against those who are out of their homes to get essential goods. Such misconduct by police even erodes the faith of many law abiding persons in the police system.  Therefore, humiliating the citizens is completely unjustified.  

Hence, in this difficult situation the administration should direct the police personnel to exercise maximum restraint, especially in cases of individuals who are moving out for essentials. All possible steps should be taken to sensitize the police personnel and warning should be issued to them against taking the law into their hands. It should be made very clear that such shaming and punishment to violators won’t be allowed because no society can tolerate such visuals and where ever needed, violators should be booked under the relevant law.  Besides, to control the fear about the uncertainty revolving around the term of the lockdown immediate steps should be taken to provide doorstep delivery of essential goods and services to people in all areas of Jammu. Only such a step can restore confidence in people that they shouldn’t start hoarding goods as everything will be delivered timely at home without going out. 

Furthermore, continuous appeals should be made to the people to stay at home during the lockdown. People should be reassured that in case of emergency police and civil administration will reach them at their homes.  At this time of medical emergency, the central and Jammu and Kashmir UT authorities are working in coordination for containment of corona virus and such behavior of the police can end up creating a panic. Moreover, public compliance cannot be obtained by shaming and insensitive dealing with violators in order to combat coronavirus successfully.

Whole Episode Of Anger

The image of the Narendra Modi led government got affected by the recent riots in Delhi. No one had thought of seeing Delhi burn due to riots. After a long while a real leader like PM Modi was seen by the country. Many in India also liked the way the Prime Minister got international recognition for the country. It was also believed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has raised India’s stature globally but these riots have impacted his rising glory. This growing stature was also witnessed during the visit of Donald Trump in Ahmedabad. The latest event with Donald Trump after ‘Howdy Modi’ could have become a moment of triumph but then the riots in New Delhi brought much disgrace to India.

Somewhere the violence we all witnessed in New Delhi aggravated with the hate speech by the politicians just to win the elections in Delhi. In the last 4-5 years Muslims have got politically alienated in India. And it was started by the efforts of some cow vigilantes in many states of the country. Moreover, during second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi came citizenship law which was rejected by the Muslim community in entire country. The campaign of hate started against Muslims was not new but its style kept changing in the past some years. The horrible violence in Delhi has led to many deaths and millions around the world were shocked to see our capital burning. These riots once again have impacted the secular credentials of our country. The ongoing political season in Delhi developed the interests of many political / social organizations to flare up this whole episode of anger building up in Delhi.

All the political leaders could have been shown place by their respective parties but it didn’t happen which furthered the distrust among communities. No efforts were made to lower the prevailing fear among Muslims who were already alienated after the new citizenship law. When the women of Shaheen Bagh were protesting, nobody in the Modi government asked them not to continue their protest. But instead of dialogue they were called ‘traitors’ and ‘Pakistanis’ by many people. The belief that CAA-NRC would harm them could have been settled by the government. Even no action was taken against such elements that were spreading the hate campaign against the women of Shaheen Bagh.  Although calm has returned in riot hit areas of Delhi, the social fabric of Delhi won’t be the same for decades to come. Further, the old religious harmony between Hindus and Muslims has eroded. The Muslims are now pushed on edge amid this identity fight going on in India. The sponsors of this hate and violence must be happy as they have become successful in achieving their agenda of polarization. This all would not have happened had the government took notice of the building resentment in Delhi.

Here afterwards, we can say that CAA-NRC has increased tensions between Hindus and Muslims across the country. The idea to treat Muslims as lesser citizens will help only those who see India just as a vote bank. But if we want ‘sabka saath - sabka vikas’ then this cannot be achieved amid such growing hatred among communities. Both the communities have suffered in these riots and the prevailing tension between Hindus and Muslims needs a true message of brotherhood from the PM because it involves us all and our safety in the country. Moreover, we all want to see ‘new India’ and not ‘bad India’. If such things continue then surely the integrity of our country could come under threat which would be from ‘insiders’ or ‘outsiders’. We have already seen hearts filled with hate of people here in Jammu and Kashmir and it shouldn’t happen ever in Delhi or anywhere else in the country. Finally, it’s only our political leaders in the country who can set us back on the right track and end the psychological scars left by these riots.