Lynching helpline: Bombay High Court's notice to Mumbai Police ahead of Bakr-Eid

Bombay High Court has issued a notice to Mumbai Police and Maharashtra director general of police in a public interest litigation case seeking 24-hour helpline for the "protection of life of citizens for trade and transport". The notice seeks a reply within two weeks.

The PIL is in reference to the rising in number of cow vigilantism cases

The petition has also sought that government should collect information about the cow vigilant groups and that all police stations should have a list of all gaurakshaks in their jurisdiction. According to the petitioners the police stations should know who are the so called gau rakshaks who conduct



illegal raids.

The PIL has been filed by social activist Shadaab Patel who fears that there will be more such attacks as the festival of Bakri Eid is close approaching. Making mumbai police commissioner as well as the Maharashtra director general of police as parties, the petitioners have said that it is the duty of the state government to protect its citizens. The PIL prays for direction from the state to come up with guidelines for the purpose of safety, protection of the citizens.

The petition sites various incidents from Akhlaq's lynching in Dadri to Junaid Khan's lynching in a train from Ballabgarh to New Delhi.