Chandan Jyoti Bora: The court today delivered its final verdict in the Abhi–Nil murder case that had shaken the state. After nearly eight years of legal proceedings, the Nagaon court announced its judgment. Out of 45 accused, 25 were acquitted, while 20 were convicted under Sections 143, 147, 302/149, 186/149, and 332/149 of the Indian Penal Code. However, the court will pronounce the sentence for the convicted on April 24 (Abhi–Nil Lynching Case Verdict).
Expressing dissatisfaction with the verdict, the fathers of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das stated that they would consult their lawyer and approach the High Court for further legal action.
Names of the 20 Convicted Accused
After about seven years of trial proceedings in the Nagaon court, the following 20 individuals were convicted:
Bishwa Ram Swargiary, Pantheng Basumatary, Alfajoj Timung, Inchen Engti, Raikom Timung, Ratneswar Terang, Phukan Lekhote, Anch Timung, Pres Timung, Rupsing Kro, Dhanu Mesh, Babu Singh Kro, Bikram Hanse, Chikari Rongpi, Babu Rongpi, Vidyasing Rongpi, Mensing Kro, Dipjyoti Basumatary, Waresh Rongpi, and Onda Mesh.
25 Accused Acquitted
The court acquitted 25 out of the 45 accused, stating that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence under Sections 143, 147, 302/149, 186/149, and 332/149 of the IPC against them.
The Nagaon court directed the Superintendent of Nagaon District Jail to release the acquitted individuals if they were not involved in any other pending cases.
Those acquitted include:
Biju Basumatary, Dhanada Mesh, Sarukan Swargiary, Ram Swargiary, Umesh Khakhlari, Sanjay Terang, Barsing Kro, Kharsing Bey, Bishnuram Boro, Premchan Engti, Bhagyaram Khakhlari, Binod Lahkar, Milan Khakhlari, Shasin alias Suchen Boro, Bijoy Swargiary, Bubai Rabha, Aken Daimari, Pratap Kro, Roben Mesh, Peter Engti, Longchong Timung, Raju Kro, Sachthenes Timung, John Engti, and Bipul Khakhlari.
The court also acquitted all 45 accused under Section 341/149 of the IPC.
Fathers of Abhi and Nil Not Satisfied with the Verdict
The fathers of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das— Ajit Nath and Gopal Chandra Das—expressed dissatisfaction with the verdict. They said:
“We expected all 45 accused to be punished. But 25 were acquitted. We are not satisfied with the judgment. After discussing with our lawyer, we will move forward and approach the High Court. The case is being conducted by the government on our behalf, so our lawyer will write to the government requesting that the case be taken to the High Court.”
They further added that they were unhappy with the acquittal of the 25 accused and felt that the court did not adequately consider circumstantial evidence.
Statement by the Public Prosecutor
Public Prosecutor Jiaul Kamar said that Section 302 (murder) has been applied against the convicted persons. Therefore, they may face either life imprisonment or the death penalty. The exact punishment will be clear after the sentencing on April 24.
He also mentioned that several witnesses changed their statements during the investigation, allegedly to help the accused, who were local residents.
What Happened in the Incident
It is worth mentioning that on June 8, 2018, in Panjuri village under Dokmoka Police Station in Karbi Anglong district, two nature-loving young men from Guwahati—Nilotpal Das and Abhijit Nath—were brutally lynched by a mob.
After videos of the incident spread on social media, protests erupted across the country and even internationally, demanding strict punishment for those involved. People across Assam took to the streets demanding justice for Abhi and Nil.
Following the incident, the police registered a case (No. 33/2018) at the local police station and arrested 48 individuals. An 800-page chargesheet was submitted to the Diphu court within a short period.
The investigating officer was then Inspector Kamal Rajbongshi of Diphu Police. Under the supervision of then Superintendent of Police G. V. Shiva Prasad, the chargesheet was filed within three months. Several officers, including then Additional SP Muzaffar Hussain, were involved in the investigation.
Later, based on a petition filed by the victims’ families in the Gauhati High Court seeking transfer of the trial from Diphu, the case was shifted to the Nagaon court on September 4, 2018.
Among the accused, one initially and later two others were found to be juveniles, and their trials were transferred to the Juvenile Court. The court recorded statements from 71 witnesses during the trial. After years of proceedings in the Nagaon court, the final verdict in the Abhi–Nil murder case was delivered today.
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