Assam Court Convicts 20 in Karbi Anglong Lynching Case, 25 Accused Acquitted

Nagaon: A special court in Assam on Monday found 20 people guilty in the 2018 mob lynching of two men in Karbi Anglong, a case that had drawn national outrage after rumours of child abduction triggered deadly vigilante violence.

The court, however, acquitted 25 other accused, citing insufficient evidence to sustain charges against them. The sentence for those convicted is expected to be announced on April 24.

The case relates to the killing of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das, who were attacked by a mob while travelling through Karbi Anglong. Investigators said false rumours circulating in the area led locals to suspect the two men were child abductors, resulting in a brutal assault that claimed both their lives.

Following the incident, police launched a large-scale investigation, arresting dozens and filing charges against 45 adults, while separate proceedings were initiated for juveniles allegedly involved.

During trial proceedings, the prosecution faced challenges after several witnesses turned hostile. Despite this, the court accepted earlier statements recorded before a magistrate as admissible evidence and relied on those records while delivering the verdict.

The convicted persons were found guilty under multiple provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including murder, rioting, unlawful assembly, and charges related to obstructing public servants.

Prosecutors said they would press for strict punishment when sentencing arguments are heard, noting that the murder charge carries penalties ranging from life imprisonment to capital punishment.

Defence lawyers argued the violence occurred amid widespread panic fueled by misinformation and raised questions over the reliability of witness accounts and aspects of the investigation.

The verdict marks a major development in one of Assam’s most widely discussed mob violence cases, which had intensified concerns over the dangers posed by rumour-driven vigilantism.