Guwahati: The District and Sessions Court in Nagaon will pronounce the sentence on Friday, April 24, for 20 people convicted in the 2018 Abhi–Neel mob lynching case in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district.
The sentencing follows the court’s April 20 verdict, in which 20 of the 45 accused were found guilty in the killing of Abhijit Nath and Nilotpal Das, while 25 others were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
The incident occurred on June 8, 2018, in Panjuri village under Dokmoka police station limits in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. A mob attacked two young men who had come to the area, resulting in their deaths.
The victims were wrongly suspected of being involved in child abduction, which triggered the violence.
The case later led to nationwide concern over mob violence driven by rumours and misinformation spread through social media.
The charge sheet was filed in 2024, and the trial was later shifted from Diphu to the Nagaon Sessions Court following directions from the Gauhati High Court.
Those convicted include Biswaram Swargiary, Pantheng Basumatary, Alafaj Timung, Incent Engti, Raikong Timung, and Ratneshwar Terang, among others identified during the trial.
Senior advocate Bijon Mahajan represented the victims’ families, while defence counsel Manas Sarania appeared for the accused. Ziaul Kamar was appointed as Special Public Prosecutor in the case.