Mumbai: Shabana Azmi, Konkona among those who protest lynching

Mumbai: Activists, a few film personalities and youth today staged a protest here, opposing community-targeted mob lynchings.

Actors Shabana Azmi, Konkona Sen Sharma, Rajat Kapoor, Ranvir Shorey, kalki Koechlin and social media activist Arpita Chatterjee were among those who participated in the protest held at Carter Road in suburban Bandra Wednesday evening.

Braving rains, protesters marched silently, holding posters and placards bearing slogans. "Killing over food. Not in my Name," read a placard.

"Todays protest was against the savage culture of mob lynching," journalist and author Rana Ayyub said.

Speaking to PTI, Shabana Azmi said, "We are demanding a law against mob lynching. I am a proud citizen of my country. This protest that has happened across the country is not specifically in support of Junaid (victim of lynching on Mathura-Delhi train a few days ago).

"It is not for Junaid alone....Its for all forms of mob lynching, be it of police officer in Srinagar or Junaid or anyone. There is no fear of law....They (culprits) know nobody will do anything. We must recognise that citizens coming together led to justice in Nirbhaya case, so we need do this more. The government needs to take notice and create fear of and the perpetrators should be punished," she said.

TV actor Vikrant Massey, who also took part in the march, said, "Bollywood celebrities are also part of the country and I feel every common person needs to stand up against this.....Its not about minority and majority, lets not get into communal angle. We need to follow the law."

The anti-lynching movement has gained traction after Saba Dewan, a documentary filmmaker, posted on Facebook about a protest she wanted to organise at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.

Similar marches have been held in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru.

A member of the Bandra West Residents Association, who participated in todays protest, said the campaign, started with the hashtag #NotInMyName, is an attempt to `reclaim the Constitution and resist the `onslaught on the right to life and equality.