A musician and his friend fell prey to fake news being circulated in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district, as the duo was lynched after being mistaken for child-lifters. Another episode of mob violence, in Maharashtra’s Aurangabad area, led to the murder of two men who were misidentified as robbers. Both the incidents occurred on Friday.
In Assam, sound engineer Nilotpal Das and his friend Abhishek Nath were spotted by mobs and were first dragged out of their cars and then lynched, The Indian Express reported. A grainy video of the episode has surfaced that shows Nilotpal pleading with folded hands. “Don’t kill me…please don’t beat me. I am an Assamese. Believe me, I am speaking the truth. My father’s name is Gopal Chandra Das and mother’s name is Radhika Das…please let me go,” he yelled at the mob, but to no avail.
Nilotpal was a Goa-based musician and some reports claim he was also an event manager, but his friend Abhishek was a businessman from Guwahati. The two had gone to a picnic spot, Kangthilangso, in Karbi Anglong to capture the sounds of nature.
Nilotpal and Abhishek had gone to Kangthilangso, in Karbi Anglong to capture the sounds of nature. Credit: The Indian Express
Local media reports claim that those who lynched him were suspicious of Nilotpal, who had dreadlocks in his hair. Outlook quoted Nilotpal’s best friend Ankur Psychia, who said, “In the past five years, he never had a haircut. Yes, he looked different. But I never imagined one day he could be lynched for this simple reason.”
“Nilotpal had traveled to almost every state in the country. But he would always tell me that Assam is the most beautiful place. In fact, he had plans to promote Assam’s tourism through his music…See the irony…” Dixshit told Outlook.
In Aurangabad’s Chandgaon village, two tribal youths were lynched and six others were injured after a mob suspected the young boys of being robbers. The Times of India reported that 8 people have been arrested and 400 villagers have been booked in the case.
Vaijapur deputy superintendent of police Sunil Lanjewar told TOI: “The policemen tried to intervene but the mob had grown too violent. They even pulled some of the men out of the police vehicle and again started thrashing them.”
Deeply anguished at the unfortunate incident in Karbi Anglong where two young artists Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das were killed. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace.
— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) June 9, 2018
In both the cases, police are yet to ascertain if the rumours led to their lynching. Meanwhile, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted saying, “Deeply anguished at the unfortunate incident in Karbi Anglong where two young artists Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das were killed. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls rest in eternal peace.”
