The District and Sessions Court in Nagaon on April 20 delivered its judgment in the 2018 Abhi–Neel mob lynching case, convicting 20 of the 45 accused, while acquitting 25 due to insufficient evidence.
The case relates to the killing of two young men from Guwahati—Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das—who were lynched by a mob on June 8, 2018, at Panjuri Kachari village under Dokmoka police station in Karbi Anglong district.
According to the prosecution, the victims were attacked after being suspected of being child lifters, following rumours widely circulated on social media at the time. Despite identifying themselves and pleading for help, they were assaulted in full public view. Videos of the incident later surfaced online, triggering widespread outrage across Assam.
After reviewing the evidence, the court found 20 accused guilty under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Section 302 (murder) read with Section 149 (common object), along with charges related to unlawful assembly, rioting, and assault on public servants.
At the same time, the court acquitted 25 individuals, stating that the prosecution was unable to establish charges against them beyond reasonable doubt. It also observed that certain allegations, including mischief and abetment, could not be substantiated against several of the accused.
The Superintendent of Central Jail, Nagaon, has been instructed to release those acquitted, provided they are not wanted in connection with any other case.
Reacting to the verdict, Nilotpal Das’s father expressed dissatisfaction over the acquittals and said he would approach the Gauhati High Court after consulting legal experts.
The incident had earlier sparked protests across the state, with civil society groups and citizens demanding justice and stronger measures against mob violence driven by misinformation.
The sentencing for the 20 convicted individuals is scheduled to be announced on April 24.
The verdict marks a significant development in one of Assam’s most shocking cases of mob lynching in recent years.
