Seven Years On, Will Assam Finally See Justice in the Abhi-Neel Lynching?

GUWAHATI: A sigh of relief and renewed hope has emerged for the families of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das after the district judicial court and offices granted three consecutive days for final arguments in the case, which is widely believed to be nearing its concluding phase. 

The development has raised expectations that the long-pending trial may finally move towards a verdict delivering justice for the duo.

Speaking to the media, Abhijit Nath’s father expressed cautious optimism, recalling the loss of his only son in 2018 and the years of waiting that followed. With the court now allotting three days for final arguments, he said the family once again feels hopeful that justice may be achieved.

“I am hopeful that some of the accused will be awarded capital punishment and the rest will also be convicted as per the law. There are high chances that the court might deliver the final verdict after this phase of the hearing. A few more extensions might also be given, which I cannot assume or comment on right now. Senior Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ziaur Kamar placed his arguments very nicely today, and the judge also heard him properly,” Abhijit’s father said.

Nilotpal Das’s father echoed similar sentiments, stating that the prolonged trial had once left the family disheartened, to the extent that they feared justice might never be served. However, following the latest hearing, he said a “ray of hope” had re-emerged.

“We had to wait for the trial for days, and at one point we had lost hope thinking that justice would never be served to my son. But after today’s hearing, we see a ray of hope. After the arguments placed in court today, our hopes came alive. Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar placed his arguments properly, which gives us great satisfaction,” he told the media.

Highlighting a key aspect of the prosecution’s case, Nilotpal’s father added,

“Out of the 12 eyewitnesses, five gave correct testimonies, while seven gave false statements. Based on this, the SPP argued before the court today.”

Providing details of the proceedings, Special Public Prosecutor Ziaur Kamar said the court formally began hearing final arguments in the case on the day and has fixed dates for the next three days, till February 7.

“Today, we started the final arguments hearing. We presented before the court detailed accounts of the eyewitnesses and their testimonies, explaining how the incident took place, who were involved, and who conspired in the crime. After the lunch break, we submitted arguments on the hostile witnesses on legal points, for which the court granted us time,” Kamar said.

He further stated that the prosecution will next focus on the weapons and items used in the attack on Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das, along with the medical evidence collected during the investigation.

“These aspects will be taken up during the next phase of arguments, which the court may hear tomorrow. Once the prosecution concludes its final submissions, the court will then hear the arguments of the defence after February 7. Following that, the court is expected to fix a date for the judgment, and subsequently, another date for the announcement of punishment,” he added.

Explaining the possible legal outcomes, the SPP said, “Here, life imprisonment, death penalty, or acquittal are the three possibilities. If we are able to prove the guilt of the accused, Section 302 along with Section 149 of the IPC can be applied. Originally, there were 48 accused. One was a juvenile and was released. During the trial, two more were found to be juveniles based on medical evidence. Currently, 45 accused are facing trial, and I am trying my best to prove their guilt in the eyes of the law.”

It may be recalled that nearly seven-and-a-half years ago, on June 8, 2018, Assam witnessed a horrific incident that shook the conscience of the nation and drew global outrage. Abhijit Nath, a businessman from Guwahati, and Nilotpal Das, a sound engineer based in Goa, were brutally lynched by a mob in Panjuri village under Dokmoka Police Station in Karbi Anglong district.

The incident was triggered by rumours of child abduction, allegedly fuelled by a misleading WhatsApp message that spread rapidly among villagers, creating an atmosphere of fear and suspicion. Abhijit and Nilotpal, who were on a leisurely drive through the scenic landscapes of Karbi Anglong, were mistakenly accused of being child kidnappers.

Despite their repeated pleas and assertions of their Assamese identity, they were mercilessly assaulted by a frenzied mob armed with bamboo sticks, wooden planks, and other makeshift weapons. The brutal attack, captured on video and later circulated widely on social media, showed the extent of the violence, with Nilotpal’s desperate cries for mercy echoing through the night.

The viral footage sparked nationwide condemnation and international outrage, intensifying demands for swift and exemplary justice. Subsequently, an exhaustive 844-page chargesheet was filed against 48 accused, including one juvenile, marking a significant step in the legal process.

However, the pursuit of justice has been plagued by delays over the years. The case, currently under the jurisdiction of the district judicial courts and offices in Nagaon, has seen 45 accused remanded to judicial custody and facing trial. At the same time, the incident has reignited calls for strong legislative measures to curb mob lynching, with renewed demands for a comprehensive anti-lynching law gaining momentum.

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