SIT formed, 23 arrested in lynching case

GUWAHATI, June 11: The investigation into the lynching of Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath on Friday evening near Kathilangso waterfall under Dokmoka police station in Karbi Anglong district has picked up pace with the arrest of 23 suspects and the formation of a special investigation team (SIT).

With the arrest of eight more suspects, the total number of arrests in connection with the case (33/2018 under Section 302/34 IPC), excluding those arrested for provocation through the social media, has gone to 23.

Meanwhile, the Karbi Anglong SP has formed an SIT led by ASP (HQ) Indranil Baruah, DSP (HQ) Niengkhodei Singhson and Howraghat OC Jatin Chandra Das. The Dokmoka OC is to extend all possible help to the investigation.

Karbi Anglong SP Dr GV Siva Prasad said: “We’re investigating the case with the required promptness. We’ve already formed an SIT led by ASP (HQ) Indranil Baruah. We’ve arrested eight more people in connection with the lynching. So far, the number of arrested people has gone up to 23.”

The eight people arrested on Monday have been identified as Borsing Kro, Khongsing Bey, Rupsing Kro, Bishnu Ram Boro, Inosen Engti, Sikhari Rongpi, Pilarson Engti and Premson Engti.

The 15 people arrested by the police on Sunday are Biju Basumatary, Biswaram Swargiary, Dhonda Mech, Dhono Mech, Dipjyoti Basumatary, Horukon Swargiary, Pangtheng Basumatary, Ram Swargiary, Umesh Khakhlary, Babu Rongpi, Anos Timung, Sanjay Terang, Bodyasing Rongpi, Anand Rongpi, Raju Bey and Bhupendra Terang.

The situation in the Dokmoka area in the hill district is still tense. All youths of the village where Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath had been killed have fled their houses. ADGP (Law and Order) Mukesh Agarwala, who had to rush to the district on Saturday, is still camping there at the time of writing this.