<p>After a mob allegedly lynched a Muslim ragpicker in Mangaluru, a group of human rights organisations from Bengaluru went to the coastal city to get an <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/activists-release-fact-finding-report-on-mangaluru-mob-lynching-3607383">independent perspective on the tragedy</a>.</p>.<p>Their report, ‘Lost Fraternity: A mob lynching in broad daylight — A betrayal of the promise of the Constitution’, was released on Saturday. The 156-page document highlights how the accounts of activists, the police and the media were at variance.</p>.Communal cases: DKS forms fact-finding panel .<p>Members of the fact-finding exercise told Metrolife their work keeps the authorities on their toes. “Democracy is also about us keeping a vigil on the State,” a leading activist and lawyer said.</p>.<p>The report was put together by the Bengaluru-based People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Karnataka; All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), Karnataka; and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Karnataka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The team comprised advocate Manavi Atri and Shashank S R of PUCL, Karnataka, advocate Hussain Kodibengare of APCR, Karnataka, and advocate Tulasidas of AILAJ, Karnataka. </p>.<p class="bodytext">On April 27, a few days after the Pahalgam terror attack, Mohammed Ashraf, a 39-year-old resident of Kerala, was allegedly murdered by a group in Kudupu village, Mangaluru. The incident occurred in a playground where a group of people playing cricket allegedly killed Ashraf and then went back to <br />their game. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The fact-finding team decided to travel to Mangaluru. But the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, around the time, triggered protests and calls for revenge killings. It pushed their trip indefinitely. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“We reached Mangaluru only on May 9, 12 days after the incident, and met everyone involved in the case. By then, the investigation had already changed hands and there had been three police suspensions,” Manavi said. “The witnesses were scared to speak to us,” said Shashank, adding,“Fear had engulfed them by the time we reached there.” Getting them to speak was the biggest challenge.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The team wanted to understand what was behind the inhuman decision to go back to the game after a life was lost. “What did it mean to them individually or for those who witnessed the lynching? Why didn’t they stop the killing or call the police? These were the questions we were asking,” Manavi added.</p>.<p class="CrossHead Rag">Why it matters</p>.<p class="bodytext">Advocate Vinay K Sreenivasa believes that fact-finding is crucial at a time when fake news abounds. “People tend to believe anything that is said on social media,” he said. “In this case, it was more important because the state tried to control the narrative. Home Minister G Parameshwara claimed that the youth had shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Even in the complaint, it says he shouted ‘Pakistan Pakistan,’ and there is no evidence for either,” he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">According to Sreenivasa, the police said they had registered an unnatural death report (UDR) and not an FIR <br />because they didn’t know it was a lynching. “The half naked body was found covered in wounds. The circle inspector knew it was a lynching. How did he not inform the DCP?” he said, adding that such details came to light only because of the fact-finding exercise. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident says a lot about our society, he said, referring to the mob going back to playing cricket after the killing. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Shashank, who has been on multiple fact-finding teams, said many cases of injustice are not highlighted by the media, especially when they concern the marginalised.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Fact-finding reports by civil society groups are important in cases where the state is inactive or tries to suppress facts,” he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Citing Gandhi as the inspiration, Manavi said the Mahatma had investigated the working conditions of indigo farmers in Champaran, Bihar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">What is it</p>.<p class="bodytext">*A fact-finding committee is an independent group comprising activists, lawyers, journalists and citizens.<br />* Its objective is to bring suppressed facts to the public domain. <br />* Work is done by volunteers, many of whom bear their own travel and accommodation expenses. They <br />are mostly supported by human rights organisations.</p>
<p>After a mob allegedly lynched a Muslim ragpicker in Mangaluru, a group of human rights organisations from Bengaluru went to the coastal city to get an <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/india/karnataka/bengaluru/activists-release-fact-finding-report-on-mangaluru-mob-lynching-3607383">independent perspective on the tragedy</a>.</p>.<p>Their report, ‘Lost Fraternity: A mob lynching in broad daylight — A betrayal of the promise of the Constitution’, was released on Saturday. The 156-page document highlights how the accounts of activists, the police and the media were at variance.</p>.Communal cases: DKS forms fact-finding panel .<p>Members of the fact-finding exercise told Metrolife their work keeps the authorities on their toes. “Democracy is also about us keeping a vigil on the State,” a leading activist and lawyer said.</p>.<p>The report was put together by the Bengaluru-based People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Karnataka; All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), Karnataka; and Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Karnataka.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The team comprised advocate Manavi Atri and Shashank S R of PUCL, Karnataka, advocate Hussain Kodibengare of APCR, Karnataka, and advocate Tulasidas of AILAJ, Karnataka. </p>.<p class="bodytext">On April 27, a few days after the Pahalgam terror attack, Mohammed Ashraf, a 39-year-old resident of Kerala, was allegedly murdered by a group in Kudupu village, Mangaluru. The incident occurred in a playground where a group of people playing cricket allegedly killed Ashraf and then went back to <br />their game. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The fact-finding team decided to travel to Mangaluru. But the murder of Hindutva activist Suhas Shetty, around the time, triggered protests and calls for revenge killings. It pushed their trip indefinitely. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“We reached Mangaluru only on May 9, 12 days after the incident, and met everyone involved in the case. By then, the investigation had already changed hands and there had been three police suspensions,” Manavi said. “The witnesses were scared to speak to us,” said Shashank, adding,“Fear had engulfed them by the time we reached there.” Getting them to speak was the biggest challenge.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The team wanted to understand what was behind the inhuman decision to go back to the game after a life was lost. “What did it mean to them individually or for those who witnessed the lynching? Why didn’t they stop the killing or call the police? These were the questions we were asking,” Manavi added.</p>.<p class="CrossHead Rag">Why it matters</p>.<p class="bodytext">Advocate Vinay K Sreenivasa believes that fact-finding is crucial at a time when fake news abounds. “People tend to believe anything that is said on social media,” he said. “In this case, it was more important because the state tried to control the narrative. Home Minister G Parameshwara claimed that the youth had shouted ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Even in the complaint, it says he shouted ‘Pakistan Pakistan,’ and there is no evidence for either,” he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">According to Sreenivasa, the police said they had registered an unnatural death report (UDR) and not an FIR <br />because they didn’t know it was a lynching. “The half naked body was found covered in wounds. The circle inspector knew it was a lynching. How did he not inform the DCP?” he said, adding that such details came to light only because of the fact-finding exercise. </p>.<p class="bodytext">The incident says a lot about our society, he said, referring to the mob going back to playing cricket after the killing. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Shashank, who has been on multiple fact-finding teams, said many cases of injustice are not highlighted by the media, especially when they concern the marginalised.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“Fact-finding reports by civil society groups are important in cases where the state is inactive or tries to suppress facts,” he added. </p>.<p class="bodytext">Citing Gandhi as the inspiration, Manavi said the Mahatma had investigated the working conditions of indigo farmers in Champaran, Bihar.</p>.<p class="bodytext">What is it</p>.<p class="bodytext">*A fact-finding committee is an independent group comprising activists, lawyers, journalists and citizens.<br />* Its objective is to bring suppressed facts to the public domain. <br />* Work is done by volunteers, many of whom bear their own travel and accommodation expenses. They <br />are mostly supported by human rights organisations.</p>