Guwahati, Jan 17: Assam Police on Monday submitted a charge-sheet in the Animesh Bhuyan mob lynching case after 50 days.
Bhuyan, the education secretary of the Brahmaputra Anchalik unit of All Assam Students Union (Golaghat), died in a mob attack which took place in the heart of Jorhat town on November 29, 2021.
The shocking incident had sparked public furore with demands from several quarters to chargesheet and try the accused in a fast-track court.
“The special investigation team has completed its investigation and a chargesheet has been submitted today. We have charge-sheeted 14 accused arrested under Sections 109, 117, 143, 147, 148, 149, 341, 325, 326, 307, 302/34 IPC against whom we found evidence,” Jorhat superintendent of police, Ankur Jain told mediapersons on Monday.
The 14 charge-sheeted includes the name of prime accused, Kola Lora alias Niraj Das, who died in a mishap while in police custody less than 24 hours after the lunching took place.
“Fifteen accused were arrested in the case. However, we have not found evidence against one of them while another is a minor,” the SP said.
Two other members of the students union, who had accompanied Animesh to Jorhat from his native village, were also attacked by a mob. They were later admitted to Jorhat Medical College and Hospital for treatment.
The Jorhat SP had subsequently appealed to the witnesses in the area to come out fearlessly and help police by providing facts, videos and statements related to the lynching so that a strong chargesheet could be filed.
Round-the-clock helpline numbers were opened for people to inform the police about facts relating to the incident that triggered state-wide outrage and demand from AASU and other pressure groups for a speedy trial through a fast-track court.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, while remarking on his Twitter handle, said, “As promised, Jorhat Police has charge-sheeted 14 accused persons (one has since died and one is child in conflict with law) in the infamous Animesh Bhuyan assault and murder in 50 days. Police have been directed to have an expeditious trial.”
A day after the lynching, the chief minister had assured stringent action in the case, while directing the state police to furnish the chargesheet within 30 days for a speedy trial.
Special DGP (law and order) G.P Singh was asked to personally monitor the investigation.
“We have collected electronic evidence and sent them for forensic tests. Statements of witnesses as well as traffic police present on the spot that day were recorded,” Singh said.