Mob violence: J'khand SPs to be appointed as nodal officers

The superintendents of police (SPs) in 24 districts of the state will be appointed as nodal officers for monitoring social media content and checking incidents of mob lynching, a top officer said today.

The move comes two days after the Centre, in its bid to curb incidents of mob violence, asked the states and Union territories to appoint a SP-level nodal officer in each district for gathering intelligence.

Additional Director General of Police R K Malik said the deputy superintendents of police will be assisting the SPs in the endeavour.

"As nodal officers, the SPs in 24 districts of Jharkhand will look into cases of mob violence over rumours of child lifting, cow theft and witchcraft. The Dy SPs will be assisting them," Malik told PTI.

The orders to appoint nodal officers will be issued shortly, he said, adding that the SPs will hold a meeting every month and a DGP-level meeting will be organised once in three months to discuss security measures.

The country has been witnessing a surge in incidents of lynching, the latest being a case in Rajasthan, where a man was beaten to death on suspicion that he was a bovine smuggler.

In Jharkhand, two men were allegedly lynched last month on the suspicion of stealing cattle. Four persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.