Debabrata Saikia seeks judicial probe into Assam lynching

The Leader of the Opposition in Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia today demanded a judicial probe into the lynching of two youths in Karbi Anglong district last week.

In a statement, senior Congress leader Saikia urged Assam Chief Minister to "institute a judicial enquiry" to get to the root of the motive behind spreading fake news across social media fora such as WhatsApp and Facebook, which resulted in the lynching of the two youths.

He said that it was essential for the government to ascertain whether the fell victims to a nation-wide conspiracy of creating an atmosphere of fear and doubt via social media.

Saikia referred to similar rumours about the presence of child-lifters being spread in Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, while pointing out that already several people have been lynched as a result.

"The opposition leader said that there was ample scope to suspect that the well-coordinated spreading of fake news might be a ploy to divert people's attention from issues of actual importance.

"In view of increasing doubts about a section of supporters of a particular political ideology being the masterminds behind such fear and hate-mongering, Saikia said that the Chief Minister should take it upon himself to order a thorough probe to unearth the truth and consequently prevent more damage being caused in Assam by such poisonous propaganda," the statement said.

The two youths, Nilotpal Das and Abhijeet Nath, had gone to the picnic spot of Kangthilangso waterfalls under Dokmoka police station in Karbi Anglong on Friday. While returning, their vehicle was stopped at Panjuri Kachari by a group of irate villagers, who pulled them out and killed them for being child-lifters.

Altogether 63 persons have been arrested from different parts of Assam for killing the youths and spreading rumours and hate messages on social media.

While 28 persons were held for killing the duo, the rest 35 were arrested for posting hate messages and rumours on social media.

The main accused Alfajoz Timung, who was out on bail in an old murder case and was arrested yesterday for the lynching, had asked the villagers over telephone to stop the duo's vehicle and spread rumours of them being child-lifters.