Sacred Cow Poem by Unnikrishnan Sivasankara Menon

The Story: Hapur district court sets precedent with life term for mob lynching Landmark ruling imposes life term on 10 accused in mob lynching case, recognising religious motive and calling for police accountability. Nearly six years after a horrific mob lynching in Hapur, a district court has delivered a significant verdict. On March 16,2024 the 10 accused were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the brutal attack on two Muslims. The incident, which occurred on June 18,2018, stemmed from unsubstantiated rumours of cow slaughter. A mob then cornered one person and beat him to death. A bystander, who attempted to intervene, was also severely injured. Gruesome video footage of the attack emerged, sparking outrage. The deceased who supported himself by selling goats in nearby markets and villages, joined the growing numbers of victims of hate crimes linked to cow slaughter that began with the cow party coming to power in the country. One of its election messages was to amplify support for cow protectionism and vigilantism. The family of the victim denied the accusations of cow slaughter, saying they had been fabricated, and fought for justice in the courts. They have had to sell everything they had, including land to sustain the lengthy legal battle. It also meant missing several days of work and the loss of wages and near-starvation. The incident drew widespread criticism of the police of the cow country particularly after a video surfaced showing three policemen watching as a crowd dragged victim's bloodied body along the track. The police later issued an apology, claiming that the lack of an ambulance prompted them to allow the body to be dragged over the ground. Initial reports suggested the attack was motivated by rumours of cow slaughter but the cow police claimed the death occurred due to a scuffle over a motorbike collision. The incident sparked outrage and calls for justice. The Supreme Court intervened by mandating a senior IPS officer from Meerut to oversee the case investigation and record the statement of the survivor. The victim's family was given police protection. The trial court found the accused guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including murder (Section 302) , attempt to murder (Section 307) , promoting religious enmity (Section 153A) , rioting (Sections 147 & 149) , and criminal intimidation (Section 148) . Each convict was also fined Rs 58,000 (about USD 700) . The court, in its judgement, stated that the death was not an accident but a well-thought-out assault with intent to murder, as supported by the postmortem report, the medico-legal reports of the lynched and injured persons, as well as the legal confessions of the accused. The order reads, "The heinous crime is a warning for the society." The court has held that the lapses and lacunae in the investigation need to be inquired into and the concerned persons responsible for the investigative flaws must face the wrath of the law. This verdict as well as the conviction under Section 153A sends a strong message against targeted hate-mongering and violence. It holds particular weight as it acknowledges the religious motive behind the attack. A lawyer involved in the case opined that incidents of mob lynching and vigilantism thrive when there is impunity for criminal action, which is often a result of majoritarian politics and biased policing in hate crimes. "The Hapur case is a stark example of how the police initially coerced the complainant to try and turn this into a road rage and motorbike accident; how the false narrative helped all the accused secure bail immediately even in a heinous case such as this; and how there were no consequences for a deliberately botched investigation shielding the accused. It was only after the victims approached the Supreme Court and the court passed multiple directions that the investigation was partially brought on track as a result of the statement of the injured witness recorded before the Magistrate." Without the court's intervention, this trial would never have succeeded, he said. "The truth would have been buried by the police a long time ago." "This is a significant precedent, and hopefully the culture of impunity with which the police operate will face strong resistance from the rule of law, which this judgement has reinforced. There is no place for majoritarian hate crimes in a constitutional democracy governed by the rule of law, " he added. On the demand from some quarters for new legislation to tackle mob lynching, he said: "Existing laws are sufficient to address such crimes. What is essential is honest law enforcement, prompt and proficient prosecution, and the elimination of political patronage for perpetrators." The Court has now let the cow worshippers eat cow dung.