NEW DELHI: Under fire over lynching of a rape accused on March 5 by a mob in Dimapur, the Nagaland government in its report to Centre has said that 21 persons have been arrested for suspected involvement in the incident and the state agencies are analysing photographic and video evidence to identify the ring leaders in the case.
Meanwhile, the government has suspended Deputy Commissioner (DC), SP and Sr. Superintendent of Central Jail as a judicial inquiry has been ordered into the incident.
“Four cases have been registered and each case is being investigated by Special Investigation Team (SIT),” the government report said.
Syed Farid Khan, a resident of Karimganj, Assam was accused of allegedly raping a 20 year old girl and an FIR was registered on February 24. He and another accused were arrested and subsequently sent to judicial custody on February 27.
The government in its report said a large number of agitators mostly school and college students on Wednesday carried out protests at DC office.
“At DC office agitators demanded that the accused persons should be handed over to them. The DC along with other administrative and police officers tried to pacify the crowd and explained to them the legal formalities and the procedure of criminal justice system.
The agitators, however, turned unruly and violent resulting in stone pelting,” report said. Report sent to the Centre further stated that another meeting of students and various NGOs was held on Thursday. The agitators then proceeded towards central jail around 1 PM.
“The mob later grew bigger and heavily outnumbered the police. They overpowered the police and broke open the central jail. ..Mob managed to break open the cell of Syed and dragged him out...After securing him with ropes, the mob pulled him marching towards city tower area,” report said adding that Police tried to secure his release from mob ultimately leading to pitched battle and use of full force but unfortunately the accused had succumbed to the injuries inflicted on him by the mob. 63 Police personnel were injured and 13 police vehicles were damaged.
The issue was also raised in Parliament by Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi demanding investigation in the murder. Gogoi speaking in Lok Sabha charged state government questioning effectiveness of law enforcement agencies.
“We hope that justice for all -- justice for the rape victim, justice for Syed’s family, justice for the legal system and justice for the peace of the whole of North-East will prevail,” Gogoi said demanding Centre to seriously look into the matter.
‘Accused Guilty’
Citing preliminary medical reports, Nagaland Home Minister Y Patton on Monday said that it was now established that Farid Khan,who was lynched by a mob in Dimapur last week, had indeed been guilty of rape.
“He had raped the girl. The medical reports suggest so,” Patton told reporters in Dimapur. Meanwhile, the Assam Assembly on Monday witnessed an uproar in connection with a former minister’s assertion on Sunday that he had alerted Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi when the mob was marching menacingly towards the Dimapur Central Jail.