Joy once dreamed of studying and building a bright future for himself and his family. But on August 9, that dream was dashed forever.

When justice is hijacked by rage and rumour, it takes only minutes for a mob to become a murderer.

Hope for change, rebirth, and the restoration of the republic remains weakened after a year.

Rights groups say the state's failure to act swiftly and decisively has to some extent emboldened mobs and contributed to a climate where vigilante justice is becoming commonplace.

Mob violence has been occurring in the country for years. But the recent spate of mugging and robbery has apparently caused a surge in such incidences.