Assam lynchings: 23 arrested, protests on
GUWAHATI: The Assam police has arrested 23 people so far for their involvement in the brutal lynching of two young men in Karbi Anglong district three days ago.
Given the deadly consequences of the wild rumours going viral on social media, police also cracked down and arrested 22 people from across the state for spreading hate messages and fake photographs of the so-called ‘hopa dora’ (child lifters).
However, according to a police officer involved with the probe, a number of suspects involved in the lynching are still on the run. “They are on the run. We are on the run too after them,” he said on condition of anonymity.
Those still evading arrest, police said, possibly include the culprits who instigated the villagers. According to the sequence of events shared by JS Khowbung, the officer in-charge of the Dokmuka police station, Nilotpal Das, the 29-year-old Goa-based sound engineer, and his friend Abhijeet Nath, the 30-year-old businessman, were spotted by locals on their way back from the Kangthilangso waterfall. At this point some phone calls were made to people in Panjuri Kachari village about the presence of alleged child abductors.
“Around 8pm, when they were on their way back, their SUV was stopped at the village intersection,” Khowbung said. “It is at this spot that the attack fuelled by the fake news and recorded on a mobile phone camera unfolded. The person who is alleged to have made that phone call, and some others involved in the attack on Friday, are still on the run.”
Mukesh Agarwal, additional director general of police, said claims that calls were made prior to the attack is being investigated.
Police said the arrested include six from Nagaon and Sonitpur for spreading rumours, fake photos and hate messages; two each from Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Kamrup (Metro) and Darrang, and one from Barpeta and Karbi Anglong. According to senior police officials, the cyber cell is being beefed up for real time engagement and monitoring.
Meanwhile, the state saw protests for the second day on Monday as people continue to be in a state of shock and disbelief over the lynchings. Hundreds gathered for a silent protest at the Judges Field in Guwahati. “Foolishness, illiteracy and superstition led to this,” said artist Zubeen Garg, who led the protest.