Another life has been lost to mob violence, this time in Tripura’s Kailasahar. Pradip Das, a driver, died a horrific death when a group of locals beat him mercilessly after he allegedly struck a tea garden worker while fleeing a confrontation. His vehicle, too, was set on fire—a symbolic cremation of justice itself.
Why do we keep seeing such scenes repeat across India? From Bihar to Rajasthan to Tripura, mob lynching has become a recurring headline, cutting across caste, religion, and class.
This time, the trigger was twofold: first, the suspicion that Das was stealing goats. Second, the injury of a local man as Das attempted to escape. These incidents, fueled by rumor and perhaps existing tensions, created the perfect storm for violence.
The bigger issue here is impunity. Mob lynchings are rarely punished with the full weight of the law. That emboldens others to believe that “instant justice” is not only acceptable but sometimes necessary. Unless the state cracks down hard—not only with arrests but with swift convictions—this cycle will continue.
As citizens, we must condemn this growing culture of vigilante action. It threatens the very core of Indian democracy, which relies on institutions, not pitchforks.
Pradip Das may or may not have committed a crime—but he died without a trial, without a chance to speak, and without justice. That should concern every single Indian who believes in the rule of law.