Delhi dentist's mob murder shows there is no humanity left in us

A 40-year-old dentist was beaten to death by a mob of 15 people in Delhi on Thursday (March 24), following the pettiest of altercations.

He had a minor son to take care of. A child who was suddenly and most brutally made to lose his biggest cover in life, exposing him to a cruel society. A society that can snuff out a precious human life at will. A society, for which there is no place for feelings and emotions.

Did the assailants consider, for even once, what would become of the child, if he lost his father at such a tender age? Did they consider the effect their action would have on the victim's wife? She would have had her heart ripped out. Again mindless rage has ensured that a hale and hearty family is thrown asunder.

According to the police, the victim, Dr Pankaj Narang, and his son were playing cricket outside their residence when the ball accidently hit two men riding past on a motorbike. A heated argument and a scuffle followed, after which the men left.

But they soon returned with a group of around 15 people, carrying bats, sticks and rods and beat the dentist to death. Even his apologies fell on deaf ears, said the victim's family. Dr Narang's brother-in-law, who tried to placate the mob, was also beaten up. The victim's house was also vandalised.

Four of the assailants have been arrested and the police is on the look out for the rest of them.

The law will take its own course and punish the attackers. But there is really more to the story than what meets the eye. The attackers represent a deeper malaise and it is at the level of the society. The biggest evidence of this is that a few of the attackers were juveniles.

Human life has totally lost its value, our moral fabric has thinned beyond recognition. Today, if you have the power, you feel you can do anything you wish to. Might is right. That's the rule that counts. There is no sympathy, no kindness, no respect for values.

This is the society we are living in. And that is most shocking. Clearly, the social mindset needs a change.

Soon this heartless society will forget the incident as another crime story tucked away in the inside pages of newspapers, and move on.

But the family of the victim has been permanently scarred. His wife is bound to have sleepless nights for a long time, and may not be her normal self again. His son will wonder all his life what had he done to warrant such a terrible punishment, having his father snatched away from him.

The culprits can be given the highest punishment that is allowed under law, but that can't bring Dr Narang back, can it?

All we can do, for now, is perhaps shed a tear or two for humanity that was shamed.