Kahuto Chishi Sumi
When a mob of angry people assemble, reason goes out the window. A mob, irrespective of race, tribe, nationality or religion, functions on basis of the basic animal instinct latent in all humans - the instinct to kill. The recent alleged rape of a child of 12, in Mon Town, saw another mob of angry Nagas assembled, ready to lynch the alleged rapist.
Many posts appeared on Facebook, generating varied comments, good and bad; and many were baying for blood. These ‘Facebook Cowards’ (as I term them) were urging the mob to kill the alleged rapist (oblivious to the fact that the posts must have appeared after the incident was over). One person commented to the effect that those who were shouting to kill the rapist should go to Mon Town and kill him themselves; instead of sitting at home and urging others to do so.
Pictures and videos were uploaded, giving fragmented and confusing impressions of the mob in action. But one post gave the clearest picture of all: one clip showed how, before the police turned up, a man (in a blue shirt, I think) stood up next to the ‘rapist’, trying to pacify the mob. When the mob started pelting stones and other objects at the ‘rapist’, this courageous man even tried to shield the accused with his own body. I distinctly recall this gentleman being hit by an object at least once.
Another clip shows the police arriving and rescuing the rapist. It is easy for ‘Politically Correct Pedants’ to carp and complain that the people, police and administration of Mon Town should have acted long before things took such a turn; but compare their actions to the people, police and administration in other states.
My views on rapists are on public record (On Crimes and Punishments {Eastern Mirror -M: - 26/6/17, The Morung Express -28/6/17 and Nagaland Post -30/6/17}). If I had been one of the mobs that day, I cannot say that I would have acted any different from those around me. It takes a rare kind of courage to speak or act against the common flow of thought and events. I salute the man who stood up against the mob, and the police and administration of Mon Town for rescuing the alleged rapist. They are few good citizens who raise above the level of animals and who have shown India that Nagas protect the Rights of the Minority in Nagaland. May God Bless You
