GUWAHATI: The Assam government has said no effort would be spared to bring the perpetrators of the Karbi Anglong mob lynching incident to justice under the strictest provisions even as 16 persons connected to it have so far been rounded up for interrogation.
Two youths from Guwahati who had gone to Karbi Anglong on a pleasure trip were beaten to death by a mob at Panjuri Kachari, a remote village under Dokmoka police station on Friday evening. The barbaric incident is believed to be ignited by rumours on social media and that the mob had attacked the duo suspecting them to be child lifters.
“We will ensure that the people who perpetrated the crime are rounded up and brought to justice under the strictest provisions of law,” TY Das, chief secretary told reporters here on Sunday.
Abhijeet Nath and Nilotpal Das, reportedly nature lovers, were returning from a picnic spot, Kangthilangso, on a vehicle (Mahindra Scorpio) around after dusk when they were intercepted and gheraoed by a mob who “suspecting them to be child abductors” thrashed them mercilessly. They died on way to the public health centre.
“We are taking the situation very seriously and have had three meetings so far. We are closely following the situation,” Das said.
Television footage had visuals (though blurred) that had shown the mob going berserk and thrashing the youths who were pleading for mercy while trying to convince them that they were not child abductors.
The incident thereafter sparked state-wide reactions with all sections of society condemning the horrific crime.
Assam DGP, Kuladhar Saikia informed that 16 persons have been arrested so far and one among them is believed to have spread the “child lifter” rumour on social media, leading to a fear psychosis in various parts of the state.
“We are trying to identify other persons who might be associated with the incident and their whereabouts. Facts are being collected in this regard and the village people have been supportive as well. Things will be clear once we complete the interrogation and investigation,” Saikia said.
A case (number 33/18/under section 302/34 IPC) has been registered under Dokmoka police station, he informed.
The DGP said the chief minister had a meeting with the police administration and said that the persons involved in the crime should not be spared.
Urging people not to give in to rumours and hate posts on social media, the DGP said that the SPs of all districts have been instructed to take action against people engaged in circulating hate messages and fake news on social media.
“Social media use has spread to the villages as many people have mobile phones. We have also caught a micro group involved in such rumours in Jorhat,” Saikia said.
“But while it is difficult to effectively monitor the interior villages, we are relying on two techniques- human and technological intelligence or cyber patrolling. Additional DGP Harmit Singh has been made incharge of monitoring social media posts and he would suggest counter measures in this regard,” he said.
The DGP said that since cyber space was deep rooted, only a percentage of it can be controlled. “The technology we have is limited but we are trying to upgrade it. We are contemplating a strategy to counter such rumours/hate posts on social media and discussions are on,” Saikia said.
The state police chief also admitted that due to some personnel being engaged in NRC-related assignments, there was a limitation of manning and monitoring all areas.
Asked whether any outside force was involved in the fake news posts to disrupt the peace process with just 20 days left for the complete NRC draft publication, the DGP said that it was difficult to say as mob lynching incited by social media posts is a country-wide phenomenon.
“Things will be clear only when we get into the details of the investigation but let me assure you that none take law into their hands and none can disturb peace and tranquility in state,” he said.
Asked whether the police suspected any militant hand in the incident, he said, “Till date, there is no evidence of any militant involvement. But we are keeping all angles open.”
Assam police have rescued many persons from similar lynching attempts ignited by the “fake child lifter rumours” in places like Biswanath Chariali, Charaideo and Hamren.
Assam police, while urging people to alert the force if they notice or come across any hate posts/fake news on social media/WhatsApp, have opened two help-lines. The numbers are 25214242 and 9435215029.