Guwahati: The Nagaland government has informed the Gauhati High Court that it has sought the CBI’s help to probe the 5th March lynching case in which an alleged rapist was dragged out of jail by a mob and lynched in Dimapur. This was stated by the State government in an affidavit before the court on 27th May and also enclosed a letter sent to the CBI director on 21st March by Nagaland Home Commissioner Neihu C Thur.
The affidavit stated that although the investigation was going on properly, the matter was discussed in the State cabinet. ‘Considering the widespread attention generated by the incident nationally and internationally and demands from various organizations, the Nagaland government has decided to hand over the case to the CBI. The government also took into consideration the large number of people involved in it and the nature of its complexity before taking the decision,’ the affidavit pointed out.
The affidavit, however, rejected the demand for transfer of non-Naga prisoners lodged in Nagaland jails to Assam, besides denying the charge of handing over the victim to the mob.
Rape accused Syed Farid Khan was dragged out of jail and stripped before being thrashed to death and his lifeless body hung on to a fence near the Dimapur’s Clock Tower junction by a mob on 5th March. Following the incident, advocate Rajib Kalita had filed a PIL seeking the court’s directive for a CBI probe and proper compensation for the victim’s family. The affidavit of the Nagaland government was in response to the explanation sought by the high court.
Immediately after the incident, a one-man judicial commission of Veprasa Nyekha, retired District & Sessions Judge, was announced by the State government to probe the matter.
Over 50 youth allegedly involved in the incident were subsequently taken into custody by the police, while look-out notices for more suspects were circulated. (ENe)
