Dadri Mob Teasing Research Paper

EXAMINING 2015 DADRI MOB LYNCHING

1. Abstract:

This paper tries to explain the unfortunate incident of 2105 Dadri mob lynching. First, I will discuss the incident in short and some of its important aspects. Then, I will go to summarise important points of the theories used in my argument. Finally, I will try to explain this incident using those points.

2. The Incident:

In Dadri’s Bisara village on September 28, a 52-year-old Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched and his son

Danish (22) was beaten up over the rumour of allegedly killing a cow and consuming its meat on Eidul-Adha.[1]

This incident was reported nationwide both by electronic and print media. It led to widespread criticism and protest against the ruling party of the state for inaction and

After which a mob reached Akhlaq’s house at around 10:30pm. The mob ransacked his house and found some meat in the refrigerator. Then, the mob dragged out the male members of the house.

Despite being stopped by the family’s Hindu neighbours, the mob didn’t stop. When police arrived, by then, Akhlaq was dead and Danish was badly injured.[2]

3. Crowd Psychology:

Crowd psychology is a branch of social psychology developed by social psychologists like Gustave Le

Bon, Philip Zimbardo, and Floyd Allport. Their theories tend to explain the ways in which the behaviour and thought process of a crowd differs from with that of an individuals within it. Following are fundamental takeaways from these theories:[3][4][5]

 Crowd forms in three stages: submergence, contagion, and suggestion. o Submergence: During the first stage of crowd formation, the people lose their sense of individual self and moral obligation. o Contagion: During the second stage, people in crowd unquestionably follow overwhelming ideas and emotions of the crowd. o Suggestion: During the third stage, ideas and emotions of the crowd is drawn from a shared racial unconscious of the people in

There have been many cases in Uttar Pradesh in which people in rural areas previously living in harmony, have been mobilised by local politicians for the sake of communal polarisation and vote bank formation.

Social Psychology, PSY454

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Incidents of local politicians disturbing communal harmony is often reported. They distribute pamphlets, share controversial videos, and put banners encouraging people of a particular community to “unite” in the name of their religion. The people in the region have been repeatedly told that their religion is in danger and there is a need to protect it from the people of other community. As a result, these issues are becoming a basis for reinforcing a racial unconscious among the people of a particular community. In Dadri incident, it was reported that for past few days, Muslim families living there, were being attacked verbally (Akhlaq’s family was called anti-nationalist by local boys [7]). Thus, there must had been some attempts by local political wings to create unrest in the village. It was reported that some youngsters forced the temple priest to make an announcement that a cow has been killed by