Special court convicts 20 accused in brutal mob lynching sparked by child abduction rumours in Assam
April 20, 2026: A special court in Nagaon on Monday convicted 20 accused in the 2018 lynching of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das in Karbi Anglong. The two men, a businessman and a musician, were brutally attacked by a mob that suspected them of being child abductors. Armed with sticks and sharp weapons, the mob intercepted their vehicle, dragged them out, and killed them on the spot, triggering outrage across the country.
The case saw a large-scale investigation, with Assam Police arresting 45 individuals and apprehending three juveniles. The trial was later shifted to Nagaon on the orders of the Gauhati High Court. While 25 accused were acquitted due to lack of evidence, the court found 20 guilty. During the trial, several witnesses turned hostile, but the court upheld earlier statements recorded before a magistrate as valid evidence.
Special public prosecutor Ziaul Kamar said the convictions were made under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including murder and rioting. The court is set to announce the quantum of punishment on April 24, with the prosecution seeking strict sentencing that could range from life imprisonment to the death penalty.