In a major development, the Nagaon District and Sessions Court has delivered its verdict in the 2018 Abhi–Neel mob lynching case, convicting 20 accused and sentencing them to life imprisonment. At the same time, 25 accused have been acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The case goes back to June 8, 2018, when two young men, Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das, were brutally killed by a mob at Panjuri village in Karbi Anglong district. They were falsely suspected to be child lifters based on rumours. Without verifying any facts, a large group attacked them in public, leading to their death. The incident had triggered massive outrage across Assam and the country.
At the time of the incident, there was no specific law in the Indian Penal Code for mob lynching. This made the investigation and prosecution more difficult. Police had to rely on multiple IPC sections such as murder (Section 302), unlawful assembly (Sections 143 and 147), and common intention (Section 149) to build the case.
Despite these legal limitations, Assam Police conducted a detailed and strong investigation. A total of 45 accused were charge-sheeted. The police collected key evidence including video footage, digital records, and statements from more than 100 witnesses. Investigators also faced challenges like public pressure, local resistance, and the passage of time, which can weaken evidence.
The investigation was led by IPS officer G V Shivaprasad, who said that proving individual roles in a mob crime without a specific law was very challenging. However, he added that proper evidence and systematic investigation helped in securing justice for the victims’ families.
This case is now being seen as an important example that even without a specific law, justice can be achieved if the investigation is strong.
Later, in 2023, the government introduced the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which for the first time clearly defines mob lynching. Under Section 103(2), strict punishment including life imprisonment or death penalty can be given for such crimes. The new law came into effect from July 1, 2024.
The verdict also reminds of another similar case in Assam, where a doctor was killed by a mob in 2019 at Teok in Jorhat. That case was also investigated under the leadership of G V Shivaprasad, and several accused were later convicted.
While the judgment has brought justice after 8 years, it also raises important questions. How can mob violence be prevented? How can rumours be controlled? And how can public trust in law be strengthened?
Experts say stronger awareness, strict policing, and responsible behaviour by citizens are necessary to prevent such incidents in the future.
