You are posted as the ‘Superintendent of Police (SP) in a district of vitae that has been severely affected by ongoing ethnic violence between ian; communities. Over the past several months, dozens of people have been i ed, hundreds injured, and thousands displaced. Several incidents of mob lynchings, arson, sexual violence, and looting have taken place. Both communities accuse each other of betrayal and violence. The state police and paramilitary forces. are deployed, but trust has broken down. Even civil servants and police officers are being viewed with suspicion, based on their ethnic identity. You are ethnically neutral and not from the state, but your district team is diverse and includes officers from both communities. The situation is tense. The Internet Is shut down. There is media pressure, social media outrage and conflicting narratives. One night, a violent mob from one community surrounds a refugee camp where families from the other community are sheltered. They are demanding that some “culprits” be handed over.to: them, claiming”those people were involved in a ‘real+t h t: if the mob is not dispersed Se previous attack. You recéive real-time information peacefully, it could lead to a massacre, but if force is us retaliation across districts. You have limited police pr force unit available on standby. it could trigger a larger and only one central Adding to the pressure, The Chief Minister’s office has informally told you to “avoid escalation” at: all costs. A senio: “MLA, from the same community as the mob, is allegedly protecting instig.A journalist-from a national media house has arrived at the camp and is: fecording live videos, which could go viral. (a) In the context of the case stuc cuss the role of declining social capital in disturbing community har oa i (b) What immediate action Id you take to prevent violence without violating Jaw or escalating tensions? !: (c) Which principles of constitutional morality should guide your action in this situation? How would you ensure their application under intense public, media and political pressure? VAS ] R AN & RAV]

Topper: Prakhya · AIR 265 · 2025 · Page 36