Karbi Anglong lynching: ‘Mob prepared for two-and-a-half hours before attack’, alleges Axom Nagarik Samaj
GUWAHATI, June 22, 2018: Citizen group Axom Nagarik Samaj on Thursday alleged that the mob at Panijuri Kachari village in Karbi Anglong district had prepared for two-and-a-half hours before lynching two youths from the city on June 8 on the suspicion of being child kidnappers.
Members of the Samaj, a delegation of which visited the district on June 15 and 16, told reporters here that neither the village defence party or its headman alerted police about the mob.
The two youths, Nilotpal Das and Abhijit Nath, were returning in a Mahindra Scorpio after visiting the nearby Kangthilangso waterfall, a picnic spot. They were bludgeoned to death despite the duo identifying themselves to the mob.
"This is how police and district administration are functioning in Karbi Anglong. The police have become disconnected from others," said Ajit Bhuyan, executive president of the group. He cited an earlier instance of a mob beating up people inside a police station in Karbi Anglong.
The group visited Dokmoka where they met the deputy commissioner and the local MLA as well as representatives of various organisations and other citizens at Diphu.
"During the meeting, the organisations said there should be a consensus before setting up statues of Nilotpal and Abhijit or renaming the waterfall after them," said Prashanta Rajguru, vice-president of the group.
Tuliram Ronghang, chief executive member of Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, had announced they would erect statues of Nilotpal and Abhijit at Panijuri. Former Asam Sahitya Sabha president Rongbong Terang, who belongs to the Karbi community, had suggested the Kangthilangso waterfall be renamed as Abhi-Neel jalpropat.
Paresh Malakar, secretary of the group, said the state government's announcement of engaging 5,000 youths to fight superstitious beliefs is contradictory to its activities like organising bhoomi puja or river festivals.
Source: The Telegraph
