Jaipur, July 16: After Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Congress-led Rajasthan government is planning to enact laws against mob lynching and honour killing. Expressing concern over the rising incidents of mob lynching, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday said the state government will soon enact a law on the pattern of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to curb incidents of mob lynching.

Gehlot added that a strict law to curb incidents of honour killing too will be enacted. The chief minister made the announcement while replying to a debate on the state budget in the assembly. In May, Congress-led Madhya Pradesh approved a proposal to amend the cow protection law and award jail terms ranging from six months to five years to those who indulge in violence in the name of cow vigilantism.

The move was taken to curb incidents of mob lynching over alleged cattle theft or beef transportation. Recently, the Uttar Pradesh Law Commission also framed draft legislation to combat mob lynching. The previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan had drawn flak after the 2017 killing of Pehlu Khan over alleged cow smuggling by a mob in Alwar district. Kamal Nath Gives Stern Warning to Gau Rakshaks, Says 'Won't Spare Those Involved in Violence in Name of Cow'.

Gehlot's statement came two days after the killing of a police head constable in Padmela village of Rajasthan’s Rajsamand district allegedly by a mob. In July last year, the Supreme Court had urged Parliament to consider enacting a new law to tackle incidents of lynching and cow vigilantism.

Describing mob lynching as "horrendous acts of mobocracy", the apex court had warned that such incidents may rise like a "Typhon-like monster" across the country. A few months later, the Manipur Assembly passed a Bill against mob violence.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 16, 2019 10:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).