JOIN USThe Centre has sought full report from Nagaland government on the incident of a rape accused being lynched in Dimapur on Thursday night by a mob.
The shocking incident took place following a protest rally attended by hundreds of people against the rape incident. Angry students and public forced into the district jail and managed to pull out the accused. At least 10 vehicles were also set ablaze by the unruly mob forcing the authorities to clamp curfew in Dimapur district.
Syed Farid Khan (35), who is suspected to be an illegal Bangladeshi migrant, was charged with raping the victim several times on February 23. He was arrested the following day following a complaint by the victim. Police had to resort to blank firing and fired tear gas shells to control the crowd, but they failed to control the situation. The accused was stripped naked and he succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the mob.
“We are taking all necessary steps, additional forces will be deployed,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said when asked about the incident. A senior Home Ministry official said a report has been sought from the state government.
A high-level probe has been instituted and action will be taken against the guilty, Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang was quoted as saying. Director General of Police (Nagaland) L L Doungel said the police are studying the footage of the attack. “We will not spare mob murderers. Inquiry will also look into police lapses,” he said.
Doungel said several arrests have been made based on the video footage. He also said police did not use force, as there were students in the mob.
The Nagaland government decided to institute a high-level committee to inquire into the incident and find out the circumstances leading to it.