Main accused arrested

Dokmoka lynching

GUWAHATI, June 13: The Assam Police have arrested the fleeing prime accused of the lynching of Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath at Panjuri under Dokmoka police station in Karbi Anglong district. He was caught by the police on Tuesday night from a hideout near Panjuri.

Talking to the media on Wednesday, DGP Kuladhar Saikia said: “A youth of the locality, Alphajoz Timung, had a duel with Abhijit and Nilotpal and made an attempt to brand them as child lifters at Panjuri near Kathilangso waterfall under Dokmoka police station on the fateful day. Gauging troubles, the duo left the scene only to be gheraoed by the people of the locality when Alphajoz informed the villagers over mobile phone that the duo was fleeing with a child. Provoked by Alphajoz, the villagers started pelting stones at the duo, stopped their vehicle, took them out and beat them to death. Alphajoz is a history-sheeter in killing cases. In 2014, he was an accused in the killing of one Mithu Das.”

“With the arrest of Alphajoz, as many as 28 people have been arrested in connection with the case so far, besides 35 others arrested for their involvement in the hate campaign through the social media. We’ve also identified a few children involved in the hate campaign. We’ve counseled them to keep themselves away from such acts,” the DGP said, and added: “If the report to be submitted by senior police officials leading the investigation has any mention about negligence of duty on the part of any government officials that will be looked into.”

When asked if the case is to be shifted to Guwahati from Karbi Anglong, the DGP said: “Such a step may be considered only if there’s any doubt in the trial of the case in the session court in Karbi Anglong district. It sounds reasonable that the case is heard in a fast-track court. Now our thrust is on capturing the killers, not on as to who took the video picture of the killing and made it viral. Such things may come afterwards. The video picture of the killing helped us in arresting the accused.”