Assam lynching: Victims’ families demand stern action to discourage lynch mobs

Less than two weeks after WhatsApp rumours triggered violence in Shillong, a social media post about alleged child abductors has led to the lynching of young men in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. The incident took place on June 8, when Nilotpal Das and Abjijeet Nath, both in their 20s, had gone back home for the Bohag Bihu festival.

As of today, 16 people have been arrested in connection with the lynching of the duo, including a Facebook instigator. According to a Times of India report, a magisterial enquiry has been ordered to find out if there were any lapses on the part of the police. This was following alleged reports that a policeman was seen recording video clips of the incident.

In one of the purported video clips, “Das is heard pleading with his attackers, ‘Do not kill me… please do not beat me. I am an Assamese. Believe me, I am speaking the truth. My father’s name is Gopal Chandra Das and mother’s name is Radhika Das… please let me go.’,” Scroll reported.

Junumoni Sonowal, the Additional Deputy Commissioner, who is carrying out the enquiry has also been asked to ascertain the identity of the person who allegedly recorded video clips of the incident and submit a report within a week.

According to a Scroll report, a 100-strong mob had beaten Das and Nath to death in Panjuri Kachhari village in the district on suspicion that they were child abductors. The duo had stopped to ask for directions to a waterfall. Following which residents of Panjuri Kacharigaon, a village about 200 km east of Guwahati, dragged them out, tied and bludgeoned them to death, The Hindu reported.

Gopal Chandra Das and Ajit Nath, fathers of the two victims, have demanded strict action to discourage lynch mobs, The Hindu reported.