Dimapur lynching: Judicial Panel Asks People To Give Written Statements

Syed Sarif Khan, who was arrested following an allegation of rape, was dragged out from the central jail by a mob and lynched.

Syed Sarif Khan, who was arrested following an allegation of rape, was dragged out from the central jail by a mob and lynched, following which his body was left hanging in the City Tower on March 5. 

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Guwahati, May 19 :  A judicial commission into the Dimapur lynching began its inquiry on Monday, asking people to submit written statements in connection with the ghastly incident.

A public notice issued by the judicial inquiry commission headed by retired Gauhati High Court judge Justice BD Agarwal issued a public notice in Dimapur seeking written statements in order to ascertain the causes and circumstances leading to the incident of vandalism and forcible entry into the Dimapur Central Jail by a mob and killing of an under-trial prisoner and another person in the ensuing violence.

Syed Sarif Khan, who was arrested following an allegation of rape, was dragged out from the central jail by a mob and lynched, following which his body was left hanging in the City Tower on March 5. Another person called Inito Swu, who was reportedly amid the crowd, was killed when police opened fire on the mob after Khan was done to death.

The inquiry commission, through the public notice specifically asked local dailies/media fraternity, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU), Naga Council Dimapur (NCD), Dimapur Naga Students’ Union (DNSU), Dimapur Chamber of Commerce (DCC), Western Sumi Students’ Union (WSSU), Naga Mothers Association (NMA) Dimapur, Survival Nagaland (SN), Naga Spear, Naga Blog (NB), GBs’ Federation Dimapur, GBs Union Dimapur, Principals of different schools and colleges of the town, as well as family members of the victims to file written statement before it.

The inquiry commission, which also has retired district and sessions judge Veprasa Nyekha as a member, has been also asked to ascertain the person/persons, group/groups responsible for the incident, lapses of dereliction of duty on the part of government officials and public authorities, a press release issued by the state IPR department in Kohima said.